Over 100 CEA members came to the Cambridge School Committee meeting on March 7, 2017 to deliver a petition signed by over 750 CEA members asking for a fair Unit A/B Contract soon. Educators have been without a contract since August and the bargaining team has been frustrated with the slow progress. The CEA members were showing their support for all of the hard work their bargaining team has put into the negotiations to date.
Here is some of what was said:
The preamble of the CEA proposals states:
The CEA Unit A/B Contract Committee understands that teacher working conditions are student learning conditions. We propose the following to increase the quality of student learning conditions in Cambridge Public Schools.
The Cambridge School Committee, School Administration, and CEA members share the responsibility for providing the best possible, culturally responsive learning opportunities. To reach this goal, our students need educators who:
- have the time, space and professional dignity to educate students in ways that are meaningful to each student and all students.
- are evaluated using a system that is consistent, meaningful and efficient.
- have time to collaborate with one another to share best practices and strategies for student academic, social and emotional development.
- determine and develop curriculum, district initiatives and district assessments.
- represent their students’ diversity.
- are committed to and able to afford a long-term career in Cambridge