• Impasse declared in Jefferson County teachers contract negotiations
• Warren Tech open house
• 2007 Graduation schedule
• Watch for Key Communique survey
• April construction fact sheet
• Board of Education meetings

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Impasse declared in Jefferson County teachers contract negotiations

Jeffco Public Schools and the Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCEA) declared an impasse on Thursday, April 5 in their contract talks which have been taking place since January of this year. The main dispute centers around probationary teachers – teachers in their first three years of employment with the district. The district wants the ability to not renew the annual contract of probationary teachers who are not meeting expectations, without going through a time-consuming grievance process. No current contracted or temporary Jeffco teacher would be affected by this change in contract language.

JCEA representatives insist on the contract's current language, which gives probationary teachers job protection that goes well beyond what is provided by state statute. In all other school districts in Colorado , probationary teachers can be non-renewed for any reason deemed appropriate by the superintendent of schools. Jeffco is the only district in the state that, because of the contract with JCEA, has lost that statutory right and must go through a lengthy process. The district still believes the evaluation process must be fair and reasons for non-renewal must be related to job performance.

“This is about quality teaching in our schools. The vast majority of our teachers are extraordinary, but we want the ability to dismiss probationary teachers, without a long grievance process, who don't meet the district's and JCEA's expectations,” said Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Cindy Stevenson. “I am saddened that we have gone to impasse over this issue since no other school district in the state is forced to go through this arduous process for probationary teachers,” she said.

“Like our students, our teachers are one of our greatest assets and that's why we continue to invest in them with a fair compensation package,” said Stevenson.

The district has offered teachers:

• an average 6 percent increase in total compensation- that includes a 4 percent cost-of-living raise, and regular increases for steps and levels
• an insurance allowance that covers complete medical benefit premiums

In this round of negotiations, the district also met the union's request to ease teachers' workloads by:

• providing more paraprofessional time in the classroom and by adding more clerical help at schools. This will cost the district approximately $380,000 a year.

Recognizing the heavy workload of all teachers, the Jefferson County Board of Education has, outside of negotiations, included an additional $750,000 in the projected 2007-2008 budget for elementary schools to help with workload relief.

“In my heart, I believe we want to settle this contract and move forward with our critical mission of educating children. I have every faith that our teachers will continue to focus on our students despite this unfortunate break in negotiations,” said Stevenson.

The next step for Jeffco Public Schools and JCEA is a fact-finding process where a mutually agreed upon representative will weigh evidence from both sides on their positions. That process is not binding on either side, but rather tries to find solutions that will be acceptable for both parties.

What additional information would you like to see regarding this issue?

Students in Warren Tech's Health Sciences Technology program invite the public to an open house on Thursday, April 26. Students will open their classroom during the morning school session, 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. to showcase educational games, interactive kiosks and informational posters on global, national and local health care issues.

This open house is the culmination of the students' year-long focus on malnutrition and homeless awareness. The students have worked with the Denver Rescue Mission since September 2006, conducting clothing and food drives and volunteering at the mission. In February, students made over 180 goodie bags filled with hygiene products and in May they have planned a "Spring Cleaning Street Tour" where they will seek out unmet needs of the homeless and attempt to meet those needs. Throughout the school year, students have volunteered as an entire class to serve food, clean and interact with mission patrons during the regular school day. Some students have become more passionate and continued to volunteer on weekends, some even bringing along friends and family members.

Instructors encourage the public to attend the Open House and see what students have been learning and doing. If you would like more information or have questions, call 303-982-8517 or 8642.

Would you like to receive more information on events similar to this?

2007 Graduation schedule

Graduation ceremonies for Jeffco Public Schools begin Saturday, May 19, and run through Thursday, May 31. Graduation ceremony dates, times and locations are listed by date, below.

Community High Schools

Charter and Option schools

Watch for 2007 Key Communique survey

The Board of Education holds study/dialogue sessions (Seminar Room, 4th floor) and business meetings (Board Room, 5th floor) at the Educational Services Center, 1829 Denver West Drive, Bldg #27, Golden, unless otherwise noted.