From the MTA President: February 2006
As the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same!
That’s where we are at: change, change, change yet the chaos, disillusionment, upset and despair remain.
Let’s start with something that occurred last June and once again, reared its ugly head at the January 26th BOE meeting–nay votes for teachers’ tenure appointments. It was with utter disbelief that I heard Mrs. Susan Botti, once again, vote against tenure appointments for teachers. Sadly, this time she was joined in her “no” vote by Mrs. Linda Knapp. Even sadder was that our two MTA members were seated in the audience, having been invited by the district to celebrate an educational milestone–the granting of tenure. What a contradiction–an invitation to an important Board meeting and the receipt of two nay votes. Gee, doesn’t that just make someone feel appreciated and valued??!!
Do these Board members realize that they are there to vote on the superintendent’s recommendation for tenure? The vote on tenure is just that–whether to accept the superintendent’s decision that a teacher has sufficiently completed a probationary period and has shown evidence of professional competence. This is not the forum to discuss, pontificate and vote on the evaluation process. This, to me, seems like BOE 101. What an embarrassment to have Board members not realizing what their vote means.
Below follows the exact comments made by Mrs. Botti:
“I will be voting no on tenure as I did last June. I wholeheartedly believe in tenure for teachers. I am disillusioned by our evaluation process. We have been working on it and working on it. We need accurate documentation by involved supervisors. If this district intends to hire superstars, then we need an evaluatory process that will ensure that we keep our superstars.”
In response to this poorly worded, misguided, and narrow-viewed diatribe, I must ask what Mrs. Botti is talking about when she refers to “working on” the evaluation process. This is a provision in our Collective Bargaining Agreement! This is a mandatory condition of bargaining and there should be no “working on” any part of the evaluation process without MTA involvement. So, was Mrs. Botti being honest about work that has taken place? If so, then this BOE has a lot of questions to answer and there could be serious consequences if there is any accuracy to Mrs. Botti’s comments.
Furthermore, I would strongly suggest that Mrs. Botti read the NYSUT brochure entitled Tenure: Understanding Due Process for Teachers. Should she not have a copy of this invaluable publication—unthinkable considering that she is a public school teacher and a NYSUT member—I will gladly provide her with a copy. And, I would certainly extend the same courtesy to Mrs. Knapp. Both of these Board members need to broaden their understanding of tenure and its meaning.
If Middletown wants to recruit, groom and retain “superstars” the conferring of tenure is the only way to ensure that this will happen. When quality teachers are assured of their right to not only due process but academic freedom, then the stage is set for “superstars” to emerge.
The backward thinking regarding the conferral of tenure only continues to contribute to those who do not feel valued and respected by this district. As I stated last June, there will be unprecedented resignations throughout this year. I am not proud of my accurate prediction, and I fear the numbers are only going to increase. At the February 9th BOE meeting, there were two more MTA resignations. What is being done to keep teachers here?
Interestingly, Mrs. Botti and Mrs. Knapp had no problem voting yes on tenure for an administrator on February 9th. When and why have the teachers become targets? Is it because we voice our opinions, place ads in the newspaper, write letters to the paper, speak up at Board meetings, question building and district procedures, and despite all the adversity, continue to do the right thing which is to be here for our students? Frankly, I’m sick and tired of administrators asking in whispers and behind closed doors what the MTA is doing on certain issues. It certainly seems that those who do not publicly voice their concerns may enjoy a level of comfort that many teachers would also like to enjoy.
Will that stop us? Most certainly not! Although this column has focused on one particular issue, we have not forgotten the extensive and ongoing list of concerns which includes the following:
- Administrative leadership for the High School is desperately needed!
- Teacher Scoring Leaders—The uncompensated “replacements” for Turnkeys and TOSAs
- District-wide Health and Safety Issues (leaks, no heat, mold, etc.)
- Quarterly Assessments (Some were quite embarrassing and not due to teacher error!)
- MAPS (What a debacle!)
- Report Card Issues (Not just a secondary problem! Didn’t anyone take into consideration that Kindergarten was moving to full-time this year yet the report cards were kept as a trimester instrument?)
- New Copiers–Who really has a handle on how much copying needs to be done and why? Is anyone cognizant of the elementary budget cuts for workbooks this year and the subsequently increased reliance on black line masters? What about textbooks not aligned with the NYS standards, forcing the use of photocopied supplemental materials?
The list could go on, but the space is limited! Know that the MTA is always on duty, always in need of input and feedback, and always ready to stand up and speak out on behalf of our members.
Wal-Mart’s relentless efforts to drive down the costs of goods has meant many suppliers have moved their production to China, where child labor laws are not enforced and free trade unions are suppressed. Wal-Mart is now just behind eight other countries as the biggest trading partner for China. 
