Background
Before the holiday break we asked you not to sign the MOU concerning Race to the Top. We made this request as not only was the state plan not completed but, at that point, the related legislation had not passed into law. The legislation passed the House and the Senate on December 19. You previously received the joint statement we made with the MEA stating why we could not support the legislation. Both unions had previously agreed to legislation that addressed what Race to the Top required. We did not support the final legislation as it went well beyond what Race to the Top required in ways we could not agree with.
Fast Forward: On January 4, the state Race to the Top plan was still in draft form, yet the Michigan Department of Education was asking Superintendents, School Boards and Teacher Unions sign the MOU by January 7 in support of the state plan. On that day you were sent a copy of the letter MEA President Iris Salters and I sent to Governor Granholm and Board President Kathleen Straus, copied to Superintendent Flanagan, along with the related press release. As you recall the letter asked that the January 7 deadline be pushed back so that the MOU can be considered after the state plan was finalized.
On January 5, in response to our letter, Superintendent Flanagan sent anemail to District Superintendents saying that MOU’s would be accepted with the signatures of the Superintendent and local school board president. The teacher union president’s signature was not necessary. This brings us to the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting with the Governor:
1. The MOU will be revised to include a clear statement that nothing in the MOU usurps collective bargaining rights. Superintendents should receive this revised MOU today. MOU’s already received will be honored. However, these Districts will be informed that the new "collective bargaining" language was always the intent of the MOU and that they should consider the MOU they signed to, in effect, include that language. This MOU will have space for three signatures—the District Superintendent, the District Board President and the Local Union President.
2. By 5 p.m., Friday, January 8, Districts that want to participate in Race to the Top need to email the Michigan Department of Education an expression of intent to sign the MOU. This allows MDE to make financial projections needed to finalize the state plan WITHOUT districts or unions having formally to sign an MOU before reviewing the plan.
3. In order to address concerns with the draft state plan a workgroup—AFT Michigan, MEA, MDE, Governor’s Office-- will meet later this week.
4. On Monday morning the state plan that will be presented to the January 12 meeting of the State Board of Education for review will be available for us to review.
5. Superintendent Flanagan’s decision of January 5 to make the union signature optional would stand—if you choose not to sign the MOU, your district can still submit it with only the signatures of the district’s superintendent and school board president, thus making the district eligible for funds. We believe the district’s application, and therefore the state’s application, is stronger with the union signature. However, we will recommend the local teacher union signs the MOU IF, and only IF, the revised plan addresses our concerns.
We appreciate your patience during this process and will continue to keep you up-to-date. Do not hesitate to call or email with any questions.
Thank you.
In Soldiarity,
David Hecker
P.S.: A related note: While we work closely with the MEA on a number of issues, we have truly been working as one team on Race to the Top, including joint statements and joint letters. I believe this is a positive development for everyone.