January 23, 2014
Just before Christmas, the Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools placed New Bedford High School on a turnaround plan which will require all teachers in the school to reapply for their jobs and allows only 50 percent of the teachers to be rehired. This is a horrendous and counterproductive educational practice. Unlike Springfield Public Schools that were forced to use the turnaround model for one-half of the Level 4 schools because of U.S. Department of Education regulations, the New Bedford Superintendent did not have to choose this model.
In Springfield, due to the number of schools in the district thatteachers in turnaround model schools can transfer to (unlike New Bedford that has only one high school), the Springfield Education Association and the Springfield Public Schools’ administration, working collaboratively with the support of the former assistant commissioner Carla Baehr, were able to mitigate some of the damage this model may have caused the district. Despite our collective efforts, in times of uncertainty with job security, teachers disseminated their resume and we lost far too many excellent teachers to surrounding communities.
I have traveled this Commonwealth and have been a part of many national education forums. Everywhere I go I ask this question to superintendents, principals, and administrators, “If you had to remove 50 percent of the teachers in any of your schools, would you lose teachers you need in order to move the school forward?” The answer has been a universal and resounding YES!!! Not only is this a poor educational practice of the New Bedford Superintendent that will be harmful to the children, it is a demeaning, disrespectful, and an unconscionable way to treat teachers.
I call on you to promulgate regulations that will not allow Superintendents to use the turnaround model unless it is required by the U.S. Department of Education regulation (the rule of 9 which requires any district with 9 or more Level 4 schools to use the turnaround model for one-half of the schools). I further call on you to lobby Secretary Arne Duncan and the U.S. Department of Education to eliminate the Rule of 9.
What the Superintendent in New Bedford is doing is a dreadfuleducational practice that, if not corrected, will leave far too many children behind.
Sincerely,
Timothy T. Collins
President, Springfield Education Association
cml/newbedforddesebd.pre
6 comments:
Thank you for making complete sense!
Hopefully he listens toreason
Thank you for you sound words. I only hope they are heard by those who need most to hear them
Thank you for your efforts; they are truly appreciated.
Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frame less heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They did not listen they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
Each time I encounter a post regarding the turnaround plan, my heart breaks. I firmly believe that Mayor Mc Cheese, along with the superintendent, know this is not a wise choice. But, they are too ashamed and are trying to save face. I do not know how Mc Cheese can sleep at night knowing he threw a knife in the coffin of NBPS. All the MA school districts are aware of the events taking place and their empathy is tangible. What about his constituents? It is no secret that many have no respect for him as a leader of this city. As for Durkin, she wants to be remembered for her blaze of glory. Remember, she is 60 plus years old. Who else would take her? This district did, as they accept all rejects. The turnaround model is a scare tactic to instill fear and obedience. We can't forget about the money. At the end of the day, Durkin will look at the pay scale of each employee, first and foremost and narrow it down department by department. Next, she'll look at teacher evaluations. One of her economic goals is to remove veteran staff at the top of the scale. She's all about the numbers, but we've got her number. She is also trying to weaken the union. What resonates the most is that the humanitarian piece is missing. Just waiting for her power to fizzle out!
Post a Comment