MichiganRadio

DPS, Detroit Federation of Teachers Close To New Contract DETROIT, MI (Michigan Radio) - Detroit Public Schools officials and the teacher's union are close to a new multi-year contract.

Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb and Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson say they've established a framework for the new contract. They expect to finalize a deal next week, and for teachers to vote on it next month.

Bobb says the new contract will reflect fiscal reality as he tackles the district's more than $200 million deficit. He says reducing that deficit is his first priority--but he's not willing to make drastic cuts that would hit students hardest.

"It would be so detrimental to what happens with kids in the classroom that I'd probably need an escort out of Detroit," Bobb said of tackling the deficit through cuts alone. "There are some things that we're going to have to make some investments in."

Bobb and Johnson say the new contract will also include teacher evaluations, and other accountability measures the union has resisted in the past.
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