State lawmakers hear Cleveland schools reform plan

CLEVELAND - Mayor Frank Jackson's education reform plan for Cleveland schools was explained to members of the state legislature Monday in a meeting Jackson called "productive."

Some of the reforms require legislative action, such as changes in state policies regarding collective bargaining. The plan eliminates seniority as the sole or priority factor in any employment or assignment decision, including RIF decisions. It also requires a differentiated compensation system to attract and retain excellent teachers and principals, aligned to a new evaluation system (with performance as a key, but not sole, factor).

In November, voters will be asked to pass an operating levy to ensure implementation of the plan.

"I'm very concerned," Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed said, after CMSD CEO Eric Gordon explained the plan to council's finance committee Monday afternoon. "They're going to go back to the voters in November 2012 and if it looks like they're doing no different than what they did in November 2011 and going after collective bargaining units, I'm not going to go for a plan of that nature."

Reed was referring to the rejection of State Issue 2 by voters last November. But Gordon said the reform plan is not union-busting.

"This is not an elimination of collective bargaining," Gordon said.

You can read the entire plan for transforming Cleveland schools at http://5.wews.com/VD4