Possible New Teachers Contract in Newark

A possible new teachers contract in Newark – I’ll comment further if the teachers approve it. Here’s Lisa Fleisher of the WSJ:

Newark and its teachers union on Thursday are expected to sign a tentative contract deal blessed by Gov. Chris Christie that would overhaul teacher pay, introducing lucrative merit bonuses and giving teachers a role in grading each other.

The contract, fueled by about $50 million from the foundation started by Facebook Inc. FB +1.32% founder Mark Zuckerberg, covers the next three years and would offer a compensation system that removes lifetime pay increases for those who earn advanced degrees and blocks poorly rated teachers from receiving automatic pay raises for years of experience, officials said.

Teachers could, however, choose to stick with the current pay scheme, which offers small, annual pay bumps for years served and for advanced degrees earned, officials said. They wouldn't be eligible for some bonuses.

"It's bold," Newark Teachers Union President Joe Del Grosso said. "The teachers are really—if they vote [yes] on this—they're showing a lot of courage. And they're the heroes. I just brought it to a point. The rest is up to them."

Union members will hear about the contract's details on Tuesday and take a vote later this month.