Re-Elect Tim Kraus
CFT President
Experienced Leadership Moving CFT into the 21st Century

Defending Public Education and Protecting Teachers’ Jobs
Even though CPS is consistently among the highest performing urban districts in the nation we still face the constant threat of privatization and de-funding. For the past year and a half Tim Kraus led the charge for CFT in defending our schools and helped to turn around public opinion to support an initially unpopular property tax levy. Drawing upon years of community experience Tim logged many 60-70 hour weeks tirelessly meeting with neighborhood councils, civic and religious organizations and governmental bodies to line up broad based support for our schools. CFT needs this kind of union leadership as we face an even greater challenge this fall when CPS must renew a $63 million levy and we must elect 4 new school board members that truly support our teachers and schools. The passage of last year’s levy saved at least 300 hundred teaching jobs and this Fall’s levy is even more crucial because it could paralyze this district forcing a collapse of the system and the loss of an even greater number of jobs in these uncertain economic times. Tim Kraus understands what is at stake and will, once again, do what is necessary to protect educational opportunity for our children and save our jobs.

Building a More Democratic Workplace
The CFT/CPS Collective Bargaining Agreement is nationally recognized for its meaningful democratic governance structures. No other union or school system maintains as many provisions for shared decision-making and governance than Cincinnati. Because of a decade of hostile upper management attitudes and non-compliance these joint bodies suffered to the point of dysfunction. In the last year and a half Tim Kraus has begun to turn the corner on rebuilding these structures so that they carry the power intended. Under Tim’s leadership the EIP is now meeting on a consistent basis and is taking up significant issues related to exploring new and maintaining old educational innovations. Additionally, under Tim’s leadership the CFT won significant grievances related to local school decision-making and restoring authority for the ILTs. The erosion of joint governance did not happen overnight and it will not be instantly repaired. We are on the restoration road, but it will take vigilance and hard work from both the CFT leadership and individual schools to consolidate these wins into our everyday practice.

Promoting Educational Excellence
Teachers unions everywhere are at a crossroads. Will we remain leaders in education reform and innovation or will we dig in our heels, refuse to innovate, and surrender education reform efforts to forces that want to destroy teachers unions and public schools? The demands of 21st century education are real and we must be ahead of the curve in innovating our practice. The CFT has a proud heritage of educational leadership that we must build upon and that is why Tim Kraus led the CFT in working with General Electric in deepening the Learning Teams and supporting the Cincinnati Vermont Math Initiative. It is also why Tim led the CFT in a partnership with UC, Cincinnati State, CPS, Strive, and a number of corporate partners to create the Hughes STEM High School. The future is bright for unions who take the challenge and lead the changes in education.

Protecting Members’ Dues
When Tim Kraus was elected in 2007 he inherited a union that was spending $140,000 more than it was generating in revenue. The CFT lost around 1300 members in a very short time from lay-offs and the severance package, but our expenses and spending did not decrease with the membership decline. In his first year Tim reduced the deficit by $60,000 by carefully watching expenses and finding outside funds for BR training and other professional development. In his second year he produced the first revenue based balanced budget in recent memory under which the CFT is currently operating. He is also instituting the policy of paying officers only for the work they do not the title they carry. Our members’ dues are not to be taken lightly and Tim recognizes that financial responsibility. He is committed to doing all he can to protect our members’ dues.