NYC to stop paying teachers to do nothing

By SARA KUGLER Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - New York City officials and a teachers' union have worked out a deal to stop putting teachers waiting for disciplinary hearings in so-called "rubber rooms."

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press the union and Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration are announcing the deal Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not been made.

For years, the city has sent teachers accused of misconduct to off-campus offices to wait months or sometimes years for disciplinary hearings.

The union contract makes it extremely difficult to fire teachers.

They are paid their full salaries to sit around all day. They are allowed to do anything but school work.

Under the deal, the rubber rooms will close this fall.