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Teacher Tenure Bills; Response from Walsh
Topic Started: May 24 2011, 08:11 PM (301 Views)
LPS Reformer
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
Dear Mr. Romick,

Thank you for contacting my office regarding teacher tenure. As your State Representative, I appreciate all constituent feedback.

I firmly believe that the primary function of our public school system is to provide a high quality, competitive education to Michigan's children. To that end, public policies should always put educational excellence first and foremost.

Laying a foundation for the success of future generations requires that the state act now on long-awaited reforms to the public school system. We must be certain students leave our school system qualified and ready to meet the challenges that await them in a rebounding Michigan economy.

With regard to tenure, I share the widespread belief that Michigan's public schools should be a place where successful students and teachers are no longer separate concepts. Most schools have wonderful teachers, but in some cases there are a few bad apples. No child should have to be taught by an ineffective teacher. These bills will give the local school district the tools they need to deal with these serious situations, but also makes the dismissal process fair for both sides. For instance, teachers still can't be fired for arbitrary or political reasons. I believe this bill package will put students first and allow schools to find the right teachers for the job while protecting school employees from arbitrary and wrongful behavior of a principal or other school administration.

There are four bills in the teacher tenure package, House Bill 4625, 4626, 4627, and 4628. This bill package would require that tenure be awarded on the basis of multiple years of demonstrative, effective teaching ability, instead of only on the number of years taught. It would change the legal standard for the dismissal of ineffective teachers and prevents suspended teachers from drawing a salary for more than 90 days. The package further prohibits a teacher from being fired on an arbitrary or capricious basis, and provides an incentive for principals and teachers to work together. Finally, the package would end "Last In First Out" policies currently protected in many districts by eliminating the length of service as the only determining factor when conducting a reduction in work force. The changes to "LIFO" dismissal policy will not apply until the current collective bargaining agreement expires. Please know that no existing labor agreements are being broken.

Thank you again for your correspondence. If there is anything that I can assist you with in the future, please let me know.

Sincerely,

John J. Walsh
Speaker Pro Tempore
19th District
“Child Abuse” means different things to different people....
----Randy Liepa 8/9/12
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