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Public Commentary Dear Editor; It has come to light that the New York State Legislature is seriously considering changes to the information school administrators and boards of education can consider when granting tenure. The proposed changes would set criteria for judging teachers' performance without allowing supervisors to choose other criteria as well. This measure has been undertaken very quickly, and has the support of NYSUT. However administrators' associations and boards of education have not had the opportunity to give valuable input. We need greater public awareness to this possible change before the State pushes it through without fair and open debate. Tenure is considered by some to be the undoing of public education, and by others a necessary component. Whatever side of the argument you are on, the fact is that tenure as it exists today greatly favors the employee, not the employer. Granting tenure occurs on a regular basis in school districts across the state, and is one of the most important decisions board of education trustees will make during their years of service. It affects virtually every aspect of education-financial, instructional or managerial. At a time when boards of education are facing state and federal mandates to improve the performance of their staff and students, lower costs, maintain facilities, and face the possibility of having the state set caps on their budgets, is it surprising to anyone that any possible change to tenure would be of concern to these "unpaid" public officials? Tenure, for all intents and purposes, guarantees a teacher a job. It greatly reduces the likelihood that a problematic teacher can be dealt with without a district incurring outlandish legal fees. It is cheaper to keep them than to get rid of them. It has been my experience that these "problematic" teachers are in the minority, but they do exist in every district. Their colleagues know who they are, and for the state legislature to further restrict a districts' ability to effectively and efficiently handles these staffing issues will dramatically reduce the chances of school boards across the state to achieve their goal of providing a quality education for all. NYSUT's president Richard Ianuzzi was recently quoted in Newsday as saying "school board representatives are alarmists," and added that they should be spending more time talking about financial aid to impoverished districts. He was also quoted as saying "to the school boards, the sky is falling." It is offensive to have the valid concerns of Board of Education trustees dismissed so flippantly by the NYSUT president. Referring to the only group of individuals who work voluntarily and without any financial compensation for the betterment of children and education in New York State as alarmists is offensive. To suggest that our efforts should only be focused on increasing financial aid to impoverished districts drastically minimizes the role of the boards of education. The issue of tenure is controversial and is of concern to all school districts in New York State, not just the impoverished districts. He also ignores the issue that this potential change has come up quickly and without giving it time for adequate discussion and debate within the public forum. Pushing this through in such a hasty fashion makes it appear as if the Assembly and Senate may be concerning themselves more with the agenda of one of the largest lobbying entities in New York State than the tax-paying public and most of all the students we serve. There is no reason the subject of tenure cannot be discussed in a reasonable, fair and open manner with everyone potentially affected by the changes having the opportunity to be heard. Mr. Iannuzzi's comments demonstrate a lack of faith on the part of NYSUT that their members can rise to the occasion and deliver sound instruction as the vast majority of teachers in this state do, day after day. Indeed Mr. Iannuzzi, the sky is falling, but it is not the boards of education who are overreacting, but the teachers who fear they do not meet the standard we have a right to demand from every person who stands in front of our childrens' classrooms every day.
I encourage all residents in Amityville to contact their local state representatives and let them know you demand an open and honest discussion of the issues that surround tenure.
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