March 4, 2010
Dear Member,
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced today that the department intends to identify the John Avery Parker Elementary School in New Bedford as one of 35 “underperforming” Level 4 schools. This morning I spoke with the teachers at the school to let them know that the New Bedford Educators’ Association will stand by them and work with them to make sure that the school improvement process in their school is productive and effective –
that it is good for students and fair to teachers. We will be insisting that the teacher and union voice is heard and respected.
This designation came about as a result of the new state education law that was passed in January. Superintendents and local union presidents only learned this week which schools were going to be designated as Level 4, so we are all having to take time to understand and digest the information and figure out what comes next.
I explained to the Parker teachers that the state has been identifying schools as “in need of improvement,” “underperforming,” “in corrective action,” and many other labels for many years, but the DESE really hasn’t done much to help these schools address the academic needs of the students. Under the new law the idea is to name fewer schools “underperforming,” which they are calling Level 4, but to require more changes in these schools to raise the level of student achievement.
Right now, there are a lot more unknowns than hard and fast information. One thing we do know is that all of the schools that were put on this list serve a high percentage of low-income students. As Governor Patrick himself said Wednesday on WTKK Radio, “I think the reason we have an achievement gap – it’s not that teachers are the problem. Poverty is the problem more often than not.” I want teachers to take that message to heart. Teachers in this school and throughout this district work very, very hard. But we also have a lot of poverty, a lot of students with special needs, a lot of English language learners, and other challenges.
Under the new law, the state recognizes these challenges and requires that more and better social services be provided to these students and families as part of the solution. But the law is also saying we have to make some changes in the schools themselves. We know that substantial changes require money, and that communities such as New Bedford do not have a lot of money to spare for intensive school redesigns. The state has promised to allocate money for these changes, some of which may come from various federal grant programs. The DESE has also promised – and it’s written into the state law – that teachers and the union must be an itegral part of the redesign process. That means teachers must have a voice in identifying what needs to be improved and in developing the improvement plan.
We don’t know what specific changes will be proposed, whether they will concern curriculum, or professional development, or the length of the school day. What we do know is that these changes have to be bargained and that any disagreements will be considered under a new, expedited arbitration process.
I also reassured the Parker teachers that what happened in Central Falls, Rhode Island – where all of the teachers, support staff and administrators were fired – should not and cannot happen here, according to the new law. We understand that the Central Falls teachers and administration are now back at the table, but that doesn’t take away the sting and shock of being told they were all being fired as of the end of the school year and that only half would be rehired. I don’t know what the laws look like in Rhode Island, but I have been reassured that such an action would be illegal in Massachusetts. In our state, teachers in Level 4 schools can only be fired for “good cause.” That’s only fair. It is grossly inequitable to fire teachers even if there is no evidence that they personally were responsible for student underperformance. The governor himself has said publicly that he doesn’t support what happened in Central Falls and that he doesn’t see a need for anything like that to happen in Massachusetts. We are going to hold him to his word.
Lastly, I reassured the teachers at the Parker School that they are not going to have to go through all of this alone. The members of the NBEA will stand by them to make sure they are treated fairly and with respect.
Sincerely,
Louis St. John
11 comments:
Lou:
On behalf of the silent majority, please accept our thanks. The NBEA's intervention at Roosevelt is making a difference. The administrator has a more conciliatory tone, but WE will continue to monitor the situation.
We support the teachers at Parker School. If teachers are involved in the process, good things can happen.
To the hard working staff at Parker and everywhere in the district. I stand behind your dedication to your students and parents. Please know that you are not alone. As a faculty rep from another building, you have our support and respect for all you do. Now more than ever is a time when ALL of us need to stand together as a solid unit!
And the wolf is no longer knocking at the door----he has entered the building!
There are many schools to follow. Its time for the union to be more proactive in working with the DOE.
Right. It's the union's fault that Parker is underperforming. Not the fault of the incompetent, "I got hired because I know someone" principal. Question: How come a NBSD official was here in our building not too long ago telling us how great we are doing, and then pow. We are then told we are one of the worse? Either the guy is an idiot and doesn't know what he is doing or what he is talking about or something else is wrong. I hope the part about the principal being removed is true. And I don't mean removed to another school.
I support the teachers of Parker School.
No bickering, please. Lou is an outstanding leader who has and will continue to guide us through these recent troubles. Remember, we are all part of the union, and we should stand together! There truly is strength in unity. I am very proud of you, Lou.
Perhaps now is the time to stop the name calling and finger pointing. It appears the principal has been removed.Can the failure of a building on one person? My understanding is that many other schools will soon be in the same boat. Why Parker why now perhaps the union knows weren't they there when the decesion was made, if not why not?
Yes, it must be the "union’s" fault. The “union" must have hand picked each of the schools chosen. It must have been the "union’s" fault across the state in all 35 schools.
The union must have hired Portia Bonner.
The union must have hired the principal.
The union must have hired principals from districts where they were considered deficient.
The union must have chosen the curriculum.
The union must be responsible for every DESE Regulation that is mandated but not funded.
The union must be responsible for every law that applies to education but doesn’t make sense.
The union is responsible for children’s attendance.
The union is responsible for children coming to school hungry.
The union is responsible for children starting school not knowing colors, alphabet or anything else parents used to teach their children.
The union must be responsible for bad parenting, domestic violence, drugs, violence, and every other crime that has ever been committed or will ever be committed that children are exposed to, before and after school.
The union must be responsible for every thing that is wrong with the world including the lack of world peace.
Shame on the union! All praise Portia Bonner and her strategic plan.
Bravo, Joe Teacher!!
Back in January, we asked members to contact their legislators and voice their concern on the changes with Ed Reform. And now DESE has changed the rules for underperfoming schools, and you blame the union!?! The district was blind sided by this as well, again because the DESE changed the rules for designating and didn't properly inform the school districts what would be included. Want to blame anyone, blame those responsible- parents and children who aren't doing the right thing
I'm confused wasen't the letter about Parker? Who said anything about blame or fault? The only thing posted- was the union part of the discussions? Take a breath Joe this is about Parker kids and Parker teachers not the union! In saying the union needs to be proactive doesen't sound like blame. Why does the union need defending? Do you know something we don't know? Do tell.
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