Teacher contract changes for GRPS?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The head of the Grand Rapids teachers union on Monday night accused Grand Rapids Public Schools of misleading the public about the reality of a state takeover of Union High School.

Administrators and the union must agree to changes in teachers' contracts as part of a reform plan for underperforming schools.

A Nov. 16 deadline passed without an agreement.

That could lead to a state takeover of Union High, the only remaining GRPS school on the state's list of "persistently low-achieving" schools.

Grand Rapids Education Association president Paul Helder said Monday night a state takeover isn't likely. And the district was wrong to tell the public that $24.6 million in federal grant money is in the balance, because teachers refuse to work more hours, Helder added.

"It was my intent tonight to simply bring this up to the board -- give them the opportunity to apologize and move on," the union president said. "Instead, I was prevented from speaking to the extent that I was able to. I was prevented from putting that message out there at all, so unfortunately, it looks like we may have to pursuit an unfair labor practice against the district for misrepresentation."

As part of the plan that would prevent Union from being taken over by the state -- and give five schools, including Union, access to that federal grant money -- teachers would have to work more hours.

The district is proposing teachers go from about 33 to 40 hours of instruction time.

"We've had some tough bargaining in the past," district spokesman John Helmholdt said. "We can reach an agreement. We've done it before and we're confident we will reach that agreement that will secure those funds and prevent any need for a state takeover."

The union wants to decrease class sizes, but Helmholdt said that's not part of the required state plan.

The state is now reviewing GRPS' plan for Union High. If the state redesign officer concludes the district has not met requirements to avoid takeover, the district could appeal to the state superintendent.

The grant money is on a separate timetable. In order to secure the funds, an agreement must be reached and implemented by the end of the school year.