Philly teachers extend contract

Five days before the contract of 16,000 Philadelphia public school teachers was set to expire, the teachers' union and the Philadelphia School District today agreed to extend the pact for 60 days.

In a statement, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan and district superintendent Arlene Ackerman said they were working together to hammer out a multiyear contract.

"This contract extension will permit the District and the PFT to fully focus on a successful and smooth opening of the 2009-2010 school year. The goal is to place the needs of our students and teachers first as they get ready for another successful school year," Ackerman and Jordan said in the statement.

The move was not a big surprise, given the state budget impasse. The district is banking on $1.65 billion - more than half of its $3.2 billion budget - to come from Harrisburg.

But with the budget up in the air, the city's funding is far from guaranteed, and any significant reduction to that aid could mean trouble for the district.

Ackerman has signaled she wants longer days for teachers and the end of job assignments based on seniority, a cherished union tradition.

She's also signaled she wants merit pay for teachers. Union officials have told their members the district is also wants to cut the pay of educators who teach a sixth class daily, shorten prep time for some teachers, give principals say over teacher planning time for part of every week, and make teaching summer school mandatory for some teachers.

There could also be big changes for teachers in a third of district schools. The 95 lowest performers, or empowerment schools, would have "terms and benefits" set by principals.

The union has roundly criticized the district's proposals.

Teachers, secretaries, counselors, librarians and other support staff will keep their current salary and benefit structure through October 31, officials said.

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