1-12. Professional Problems Committees

1-12.1. School-Based Professional Problems Committees. 

Each school shall establish a Professional Problems Committee to discuss school operations, contract administration issues and any new BOARD instructional program or joint BOARD-UNION initiative, or new local initiatives prior to or at the time of its implementation at the local school level. The committee shall be composed of the principal and no fewer than three and not more than five members identified by the UNION delegate at schools with 150 or fewer non-city wide CTU bargaining unit employees assigned to the school full-time; and, at the option of the UNION delegate, 1 additional committee member identified by the UNION delegate for every 50 non-city wide CTU bargaining unit employees assigned to the school full-time above 150, with a cap at a total of 10 members, provided that the assistant principal or principal designee is added to a PPC if the UNION delegate exercises the option to add bargaining unit employee committee members. The UNION delegate shall be the chairperson of the Professional Problems Committee. The UNION delegate shall notify the principal of the UNION representatives as soon as they are elected and report any changes in representatives as soon as possible. The committee shall meet at least monthly without loss of compensation, and the parties shall jointly establish the agenda at least forty-eight hours prior to each meeting. Meetings in addition to regularly scheduled monthly meetings shall be mutually agreed upon between the PPC members and the Principal, shall only be held for reasonable cause, and PPC meetings shall not exceed two per month. The UNION delegate and the principal shall exchange agenda items, at least 48 hours prior to each meeting. Neither party shall outright reject the other’s proposed agenda items so long as the agenda item references a CPS/CTU Contract Professional Problem.

The principal and the chairperson of the Professional Problems Committee shall exchange in a timely manner available and pertinent information concerning the operation of the school when such information is necessary for the understanding and resolution of professional problems under discussion by the principal and the Professional Problems Committee. Information to be shared with the PPC includes, but is not limited to:

  • The LSC approved school budget
  • Full staff list of any and all employees assigned to the school, including union and non-union employees
  • The UNION delegate shall be updated of any change of the staff list.
  • Specific counts of class sizes for each course section
  • Each section should include the course number, period it takes place, the student count, the name of the teacher(s), what level it is, and whether or not it is an inclusion class.
  • Regular & Cluster class size data
  • List of teachers who are assigned a 6th class
  • List of teachers who are assigned an advisory

The principal or the UNION delegate may invite consultants or resource persons to attend the meeting to discuss specific agenda items with 48 hours’ advance notice to the committee members. The committee shall decide whether and how to report the proceedings of the meeting to school staff.

1-12.2. City-Wide Professional Problems Committee. 

A City-Wide Professional Problems Committee shall be established with members representing clinicians, PSRPs assigned to the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services and other city-wide employees. The committee shall be composed of the Chief Officer of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services or their designee and between eight and twelve city-wide employees designated by the UNION. The committee shall meet at least four times a year without loss of compensation and shall also meet with clinician managers if possible.

1-12.3. Substitute Teacher Professional Problems Committee. 

A Substitute Teacher Professional Problems Committee shall be established with members representing temporarily assigned teachers, Cadre substitutes and day-to-day substitutes. The committee shall be composed of the Chief Talent Officer or their designee and between eight and twelve substitute teachers designated by the UNION. The committee shall meet at least four times a year, and employees shall be paid their daily rate for attending such meetings.