Before Any Waiver is Discussed: All Longer School Day Pioneer Program waiver votes are conducted in strict accordance with the CPS collective bargaining agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union and applicable state law. The collective bargaining agreement says specifically that "any provision of this Agreement" is subject to the waiver process.

Step 1: Waivers are discussed in a professional, collegial and collaborative process between the principal and the teachers before any vote is taken.

Step 2: A notice of vote is posted at each school and given to each teacher and staff member.

Step 3: All eligible-to-vote staff is permitted to do so by secret ballot. CPS recommends that the principal call a staff meeting to present the proposed waiver and answer any questions the staff may have about it before voting begins. The principal and the school delegate should arrange for a ballot box and a sign-in sheet for voters to register. As they sign in, each staff member should receive a ballot and should be directed to a place to vote in private. The staff member should fold the completed ballot and place it in a ballot box.

Step 4: Votes are counted jointly by a CTU representative and the principal at each school, and CPS recommends that another witness from the staff witness the vote counting as well.

Step 5: Results are verified by a CTU representative and the principal at each school. Both the principal and the delegate should sign a Waiver Report Sheet, which certifies the number of bal-lots and the number of votes in favor and against the proposed waiver. The Waiver Report sheet must be mailed to CTU by the School Delegate. The Principal retains the original for the Office of Employee Relations and the School files.

< Back to Longer School Day Home Page