CEO Eric Gordon & Board Chair Denise Link express gratitude for CTU contract approval

Upon learning that members of the Cleveland Teachers overwhelming approved a new 3-year contract with the Board of Education, Board Chair Denise Link expressed her gratitude to both sides for reaching a ground-breaking agreement prior to the end of the school year. 

"This agreement will play a significant role in transforming Cleveland's schools and building on the culture of collaboration that has been so essential to our progress this year," said Link.  

The tentative agreement, came after months of contract talks using Interest Based Bargaining, the assistance of federal mediation services and a Fact Finder.  Both sides were committed to reaching a negotiated settlement prior to the end of the 2012-2013 school year, said CEO Eric Gordon. 

“The negotiating process and the outcome of these talks are a testament to the culture change that is already taking place in the District," said Gordon. "Reaching agreement in our contract negotiations before the end of the school year means that all of us can put our focus on where it needs to be--on fully implementing the Cleveland Plan."

What others are saying:

A boost to school transformation in Cleveland

AKRON BEACON JOURNAL May 15, 2013

The Cleveland school district is making itself a showcase of how to go about transforming a school system. Last week, the district and its teachers union unveiled a tentative three-year contract. On Tuesday, the contract won approval from the school board. It is no simple accomplishment that the district has come this far in negotiating a new operating system for teachers.

Tentative contract takes Cleveland schools and teachers into uncharted, but promising, educational territory: editorial

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer May 11, 2013

Some Clevelanders may still doubt that the 15-mill levy voters passed last November will be used to turn around their ailing schools -- instead of lining the pockets of teachers and staff.

But there was a hopeful sign last week, in just-concluded teacher contract talks, that Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon and Cleveland Teachers Union President David Quolke have kept the focus on reform by tying teacher pay to quality work, longer hours, initiative and innovation. Nudged on by some outstanding mediators, they seem to have negotiated a radically different contract that rewards teacher effectiveness instead of longevity, while rebuilding schools.