The area's locked-out newspaper workers provided a sound truck and marched. Teachers are now dealing with a new Board of Education that Mayor Dennis Archer appointed after the state took over the city schools earlier this year. The new board almost entirely represents corporate interests. Other punitive measures include tying step increments to not receiving any reprimands and negotiated salary increases only for those whose attendance is good.
Some provisions tie job security to student test performance.
Administrators would also have the right to change student grades, which is now strictly the teachers' prerogative. The board is also proposing an additional nine days of work, four days of student instruction and five days of teacher in-service, but no additional money is being offered. Detroit currently has a 1,000-teacher shortage, with substitutes covering classrooms in place of certified teachers. While there has been vigorous recruitment going on with job fairs, these policies will only encourage the more senior teachers to take their retirements as soon as possible. The test will come on Aug. 30, the first day of school, when teachers are to meet and authorize a work action.