Contractual Obligations
One of the big things items this upcoming session will be the issue of education reform. In order to move Indiana forward, this state is really going to have to step up its reform efforts. One of the big things it can do is to revamp collective bargaining. I’ve been reviewing some of the silly and outrageous provisions that are in current teacher contracts from across the state. And to be honest, I frankly don’t know which one is more ridiculous, the teachers who asked for the provisions or the idiotic school boards that agreed to them. Here’s a sample…
- During a Reduction in Force, a teacher with tied seniority will be dismissed based on: birth date, blind draw, roll of a die, the sum of the last four digits of the social security number. The higher sum of the two is granted the greater seniority.
- Principals have no authority to appoint teachers to classrooms. Teachers choose their own classroom assignments based on seniority. Each teacher submits to the Board their top 3 choices. The Board shall then work down the seniority list in assigning classes. If a less senior teacher prefers a class already requested by a more senior teacher, the Board shall move on to the less senior teacher’s second preference, and so on, until all teachers receive their most desired available pick. Then, the Board shall repeat for two more cycles to assign as many teachers as possible to their respective preferences.
- No material may be sent to a prospective outside employer without the consent of the teacher.
- No staff meetings on Mondays, except in emergencies.
- Sixteen (16) days in each even-numbered year and twenty-four (24) days in each odd-numbered year shall be available for released time for teachers to work on legislative matters, including visits to the Indiana General Assembly and related activities which may include meetings with the Legislative Liaison Office.
- A teacher has the right to displace a less senior teacher in another subject area to avoid involuntary transfer.
- Association has equal say as to which teachers are hired for summer school. Teachers offered summer school positions based on seniority.
- Teachers may not be required to report more than 20 minutes before the class day begins.
- Teachers hired before 2008 pay only $1.00 for health insurance.
- The classroom teacher is solely responsible for the evaluation and measurement of pupil progress, retention and promotion.
- No teacher evaluation shall be based on ISTEP scores.
- Teachers with 5 years of experience will not be subject to evaluation, with exceptions.
- Teachers with 5 years of experience may only be evaluated once every 3 years.
- Open houses may not exceed one per semester at secondary schools and two per semester at elementary schools
That’s just a sample. While I have no problem with people negotiating reasonable working conditions, no one can be serious about some of the stuff you see written above. Let the school reform begin!!!!
