NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

City To Stop Paying Teachers to Do Nothing

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The city and the teachers' union have worked out a deal to stop putting hundreds of teachers waiting for disciplinary hearings in "rubber rooms,'' and will close the centers this fall, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Officially known as teacher-reassignment centers, rubber rooms are off-campus spaces where hundreds of teachers are paid their full salaries to do nothing while they await disciplinary hearings.

The person familiar with the decision said Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration and the teachers' union were to announce the deal later Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not been made.

More than 600 teachers generally spend months or even years in the rubber rooms playing Scrabble, reading or surfing the Internet. The nickname refers to the padded cells of asylums, and teachers have said the name is fitting, since some of the inhabitants can become unstable.

The department has blamed union rules that make it difficult to fire teachers, but some teachers assigned to rubber rooms charge that they have been singled out because they blew the whistle on a principal who was fudging test scores.

Because the teachers collect their full salaries of $70,000 or more, the city Department of Education estimated last year that the practice was costing the taxpayers $65 million a year.

Re: NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

It's about time. But I hope these people get their hearings. The city has dragged its feet on this for years and people decide to blame it on us.

Re: NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

I understand suspended with pay. But why not give them a "desk job" There has to be tons of duties that need to be done.


I just heard a story on NPR about them this morning. I hope everyone gets a fair hearing.

Re: NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

I think they do plan to give them "desk jobs" (it said something about that on the UFT website)... but I'm wondering, what about the people who do these desk jobs right now? Are they going to get bumped out by rubber room teachers?

How about they resolve the cases pending against these teachers quickly rather than taking years to do so? Put them back into the classroom if they're found innocent, fire them if they were guilty. They need to speed up this process.

Re: NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

Re: NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

Re: NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

I think this is good bc it will get some desk work done and speed up the hearning

ANDDDDD

The union CONCEDED on something...we gave something up SO maybe they will give us a break on lay off's, firing ATR's etc. bc they are saving so much money (in the future) doing away with rubber rooms...just a thought.

Re: NYC TEACHERS--READ BELOW, JUST SAW THIS RE: RUBBER ROOMS

I am not a city teacher but I don't think it is a coincidence that the rubber room documentary is coming out and all of a sudden there is a deal being made!