Dear Local 604 AFT:
Thoughts on Monday's Board Meeting 3-25-13
If ever a display of just how far the Board is from where we are was abundantly made clear in a couple of comments that were degrading and demonstrating a genuine lack of concern for both the educational process, our students, and us as working professionals.
Statement 1: "We are going for quality over quantity"---Dr. Mitchem.
Is it quality when the Board awards one of it's own a 65K bonus for getting credentials they should have already had?
Is it quality hiring core leaders, such as a 27 yr old Math Core Leader who has advocated positions to the Special Education Department personnel that directly violate the Student's IEP?
Is that quality when this District could be sued in Federal Court over such actions. The Superintendent's own words say we haven't been in compliance with federal mandates concerning SPED,"for as long as I can remember" or something to that effect.
Is that quality loading up on admin but unloading critical aides? Mere promises that they will have 1st Priority to fill those teaching position is not sincere. Why? The District will hire a first year rather than pay more for the more experience WITH OUR KIDS.
Is it quality having an High School English Core Leader that does not know who Chaucer is? Most people reading probably don't know who Chaucer is. He is considered to be the father of English Literature. Any English major would be able to tell who he is!
A comparison to science would be like not knowing who Isaac Newton was or not knowing who Walter Payton was to the Bears . Unless this core leader is there only fire people, which she has been a part of, that's only quality I can see that the Core Leader brings.
Is it quality having two building administrators being under 3 lawsuits for violating the Human Rights Act as well as Federal Statues? Is that the quality we are talking?
I'm no saint, I don't pretend to be a perfect teacher but the feedback I receive from my students and as well as the grades reflects a caring and concern that I am meeting their needs. I'll stack that up any day against evaluators who have no idea nor care about special education or the plight of those students.
In fact, a building administrator at RHS says he doesn't care to know about SPED and tells them to use their the professional judgement only to fire them for exercising their professional judgement. Again is this quality?
Please tell me what the "quality" of teaching kids the Common Core with students who have a lower the 70 IQ. It's not that they can't learn, it's how they learn or the rate they learn. One cannot build a stone building with wood. That is not to say they can't learn or our expectations should not be high. It's an acknowledgement of facts not excuses.
I ask those who expounded the mantra of "No excuses" would they fly in an airplane with parts that can only work with the patience and diligence need for the plane to perform? Would they fly in an airplane were there is only one single way mandated from on the high to fix an aircraft?
Statement 2: Mr. Gougis stated that "we are not the largest employer for Valley View". While that maybe true, I don't think Mr. Gougis would be so cavalier if it was his job on the line. That was an amazing lack of sensitivity on his part and also a reflection of the attitude towards teaching in general, which is we are nothing but the expendable hired help.
We all know of a hitlist. In fact, a building principal told his staff he couldn't just fire people, good people, for no reason other than they being veteran staff members or gotten on someone's bad side. This list was also rumored to have become part of a lawsuit between the District and a Valley View employee.
Once again, is that quality? Gutting veteran staff members who either/or have experience, advanced degrees or health-care costs.
Is that quality? I don't know but it's sure as hell is not ethical or legal for that matter. Is this the type of quality that the Board speaks? The quality that translates into values which are then passed onto our children.
One has to openly wonder what exactly is meant by "quality". I know as a result of this, that I will be retaliated against. I have been before and still continue to be. But I could not in good conscience let this go for the sake of the kids and us as professionals...
A final thought, we hear all the time, the data says or suggests. I would challenge our board to cite what they are referring too BEFORE or AT the board meeting. Having studied data, I can assure you that for every data saying something is good. There is a corresponding bad data set that says don't do it.
Respectfully,
Germanicus
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