Written by Maloney Staff Thursday, 14 April 2011 12:30
"The biggest change in this agreement is that we will have better-qualified teachers in the classroom," Maloney said. "No longer will the practice of ‘first hired, last fired’ keep poorer performing teachers in schools. The benefit of this approach is going to go to the students." The agreement, described by teachers’ unions as "historic", came after months of negotiations between members of the Senate Special Committee on Education Reform, teachers unions, and Stand for Children, a grassroots organization whose mission is improving schools. Senator Maloney was named to the Special Committee on Education Reform in 2010, along with Senator Kimberly Lightford. The bipartisan group had a number of challenging issues to reach consensus on, including reducing the threat of teacher strikes while respecting the unions’ bargaining rights. The deal means a longer time period between stalemates on contracts and walking out on strike, and third-party fact-finding and mediation will be shared with the public as negotiations continue. If that fails, a strike vote would require three-quarters’ approval by Chicago teachers; a simple majority is the standard outside Chicago. "There is no single perfect solution for the various parties engaged in this effort, but we believe this is a very good agreement with positive developments for all, particularly Illinois students," Maloney said. "It will be exciting to watch these reforms applied and see improvements evolve." Senator Maloney chairs the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, and is a former school administrator and teacher. He has been engaged in a number of education legislation efforts regarding access, completion, performance-based funding, tuition, and scholarship programs in Illinois since he joined the Illinois Senate in 2003.
Springfield, IL – State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago), co-sponsor of the education reform bill presented today, Senate Bill 7, said this represents the greatest change in Illinois education since the 1990s and will bring meaningful improvements for students.
Senator Maloney Menu
18th District
Years served: 1992-1993 (House); 2003 - Present (Senate)
Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Higher Education (Chairperson); Labor; Appropriations II; Consumer Protection; Redistricting; Deficit Reduction.
Biography: Senator Ed Maloney is a full-time legislator. His professional experience includes being an assistant principal and dean of faculty at Brother Rice High School in Chicago, manager and professional development director for the Chicago Park District, and a teacher, counselor and administrator at Oak Lawn Community High School. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from Lewis University and a master's degree in education from Chicago State University. Senator Maloney is married to Norine, and they have four sons and ten grandchildren.