DANA DiFILIPPO
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati Public Schools principals and other administrators have asked the state to intervene in contract talks, which have stalled over the district's merit pay system.
The Cincinnati Association of Administrators and Supervisors (CAAS), which represents about 200 district employees, filed the request last week with the State Employment Relations Board, which oversees collective bargaining in Ohio's public employment. Administrators have been working under their old contract since Dec. 31.
The biggest sticking point is the district's pay-for-performance salary scale, which was implemented two years ago.
"We need some intervention because we can't agree on these issues," said Melody Dacey, CAAS president and Winton Montessori School principal. "Pay-for-performance is an inequitable way to assess an administrator's competence. While the board has emphasized the importance of pay-for-performance as the accountability model, they have not used this in relation to non-renewals."
School board members can agree not to renew a contract without explanation. Several administrators' contracts have not been renewed despite favorable performance reviews, Mrs. Dacey said. Administrators also are dissatisfied with grievance procedures, she said.
John Concannon, the district's general counsel, called the request of CAAS for state intervention premature. "We've had some discussions, but we've not entered into formal negotiations yet," he said.
Mr. Concannon defended the merit pay system as fair.
"Under the old way of doing it, you got paid for years of service and degrees. Now you're getting paid for the job you do," he said.
