Phila. schools, union extend contract

Ten days before the contract of 11,000 Philadelphia School District teachers, nurses, librarians, and support staff was set to expire, officials yesterday announced that they extended the pact a second time for an additional month.

In a statement, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, and School Reform Commission chairman Robert Archie Jr. said the contract would now expire Nov. 30.

Teachers' current salaries, benefits, and working conditions will remain in place.

"The School District and the PFT are continuing to work together to negotiate a multiyear contract that will improve students' academic achievement and create working conditions that help the district recruit and retain the best teachers and staff," officials said in the statement.

The announcement was not a surprise. Though the two sides have been talking for months, the late adoption of a state budget meant no real progress on financial issues.

The contract originally expired Aug. 31 and was extended to Oct. 31.

Ackerman has said she wants longer school days, merit pay for teachers, and more flexibility to assign staff regardless of seniority.

Union officials have told their members the district wants to shorten prep time for some teachers, give principals say over teacher planning for part of every week, and make teaching summer school mandatory for some.

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 spoken out against the district's proposals.

Ackerman has said that if the parties can't reach a deal, she would consider asking the School Reform Commission to impose terms on the union.

It has the power to do so based on the legislation that led to the 2001 state takeover of the district, but no commission has exercised that right.

Chief business officer Michael Masch said recently that there is no room in the district's $3.2 billion budget for raises.