Union Allows School Committee Members To Participate in Making School Policy

[From article]
"We share a responsibility and a commitment to foster an organizational culture of respect and accountability at all levels of the CPS," read the preamble. "We therefore commit ourselves to an ongoing value-driven review of the contractual structures and committees that currently exist to ensure that they are serving the interest of the partners at both the district and school levels to educate all students to their highest capacities."
Now, more than ever, Colbath-Hess said it’s critical that teachers and the district work in close collaboration with each other. With a new federal testing system being piloted this year and a new statewide teacher evaluation system, the pressures on the district are growing, she said.
"Things that used to be decided only at the local level are now being decided one and two steps away from where they are actually being implemented," Colbath-Hess said. "Because the locus of control has shifted so much, that’s why it’s so important now that the people who have to actually operationalize these policies work together to figure out the best way to do it,

Union president did not explain his willingness to share power with school committee officials, to help his union make policy. Will the teachers be required to pay increased dues? Will psychologists be required to pay unions dues? Will elected officials get higher campaign contributions from the Union?

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140409/NEWS/140406036 

Cambridge teacher contract preamble focuses on shared responsibility
By Erin Baldassari
cambridge@wickedlocal.com
Posted Apr. 9, 2014 @ 3:19 pm
Cambridge Chronicle