As we strive to build a district that is the best place to teach, we want to honor our educators for all they do for our schools, our students and our community. Educators are the foundation for the success of our students. We recognize and appreciate their extraordinary dedication, and understand that a crucial component for ensuring they feel valued is through fair and competitive compensation.
For the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to join the dialogue with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) -- the union that represents DPS' teachers and specialized service providers (SSPs) -- as we negotiate an improved compensation system for our educators.
DPS and DCTA share a vision for the compensation system our educators deserve -- one that ensures all have a competitive, predictable salary that grows over time. With the foundation of this common vision, I am optimistic that we will come to a fair agreement.
Last year, we signed an agreement with DCTA that committed $45 million additional dollars so teachers would be guaranteed raises for three years. This week, we committed to increase that investment by 25% or $11 million. This will require some deep cuts to our central administrative spending. However, we want our educators to see that we are willing to make difficult choices on their behalf.
See more details about DPS' proposal to DCTA in this week's update to teachers.
Our proposal reflects what we have heard from teachers -- that they would like to invest more money in base pay and less in bonuses, and they want a compensation system that improves predictability and transparency in their pay. And, it supports educator retention by continuing to advocate for strong incentives for educators serving in our highest-need schools and positions.
Our
proposal also offers several avenues to increase their pay by earning advanced licenses, degrees and certifications, striking a balance between valuing teachers' ongoing education while not requiring them to have to invest in additional education in order to grow their salary.
I recognize, however, that our proposal is just one option to reach an agreement. I am committed to keeping an open mind, and, in fact, am soliciting dialogue and additional ideas from the DCTA that might bring us closer together in meeting our common interests. I hope the representatives from DCTA will join me in engaging in a productive dialogue with an equal commitment to reaching an agreement.
I also want to share that our superintendent finalist, Susana Cordova, supports our direction to increase teacher compensation, and I know that she shares my deep commitment to honoring our teachers.
Warmly,
Ron
Ron Cabrera, PhD
