Phillipsburg School District OKs participation in Race to the Top grant funds over teachers union objection

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
By SARAH M. WOJCIK
The Express-Times

PHILLIPSBURG | The Phillipsburg School Board on Monday unanimously approved participating in a competitive federal grant program that could earn the district millions if New Jersey is selected as a recipient.

The district's teachers union refused to attach its signature to the application, echoing union concerns in the Easton and Bethlehem area school districts.

The Race to the Top grant initiative, aimed at spurring reform and innovation in public education, will distribute $4.35 billion among 10 to 15 states over four years. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are competing for between $200 million and $400 million each in grant funds.

The U.S. Department of Education hopes to announce the states eligible for the Race to the Top grant funds by April.

Certain caveats attached to the grant money have become a concern for teachers unions in both states. Tying teacher salaries with student test scores and other stipulations have given rise to objections by the New Jersey Education Association.

Unions not signing on

Phillipsburg Education Association President Barbara English said the union has been advised by the NJEA to refrain from signing off on the application. Some terms attached to the money mirror those usually reserved for collective bargaining agreements.

The New Jersey Department of Education requests that an agreement include the signatures of the school's superintendent, school board president and teachers union representative but only requires the superintendent's approval.

"However, the Obama administration is looking for evidence of local support and we can achieve higher scores if more local support is shown," department spokeswoman Beth Auerswald said in an e-mail Monday.

Pennsylvania's stance on the signature requirements appears to have changed, according to Kevin Deely, president of the Easton Area Education Association.

On Thursday, the school district agreed to submit an application without the union's support. Deely said Monday the state had informed him applications would not be accepted without the union's support.

Deely said the Easton area union met Monday to discuss whether to sign the application. Deely could not comment Monday on the discussion, but previously said the union had serious concerns about Race to the Top -- particularly the plans to tie teacher pay to student test scores.

In the Bethlehem Area School District, the school board and administration both favor applying for the money. They are waiting to hear from the Bethlehem teachers union.

English said the expansion of testing, calls for longer school days and new teacher evaluations are among the concerns for the union.

"They're looking to impose significant new obligations and it could be costly," English said, adding that the funds would dry up after four years. "Who picks up the tab then?"

Need for cash seen

Phillipsburg Superintendent Mark B. Miller said school officials cannot pass on an opportunity for financial assistance -- especially in a district that has cut 106 staff positions and has seen a drop of $12.3 million in state aid within the past two years.

"We need to get into this district every possible dollar that we can," Miller said.

The Race to the Top grant funds can be used to help improve standards and assessments, data collection, teacher effectiveness and reverse the direction of struggling school districts.

"Some of the programs the grant money would fund are very, very intriguing to us," Assistant Superintendent George Chando said.

Miller said he is not surprised by state and local teacher union concerns. Revised faculty evaluations and merit pay stipulations would mean a lot of change.

"Those are all things that scare people because they're new or they're unknown," Miller said. The Phillipsburg Education Association "has their reasons (for not signing the agreement) and we respect those reasons."