‘Students First Act’ may ‘significantly’ change school board rules
The Students First Act of 2011 (SFA) was the main topic at the April 7 City of Madison Board of Education meeting.
School Board Attorney Woody Sanderson presented the act, which would reform tenure, as well as board transfers and discipline for the city’s teachers.
The act states that tenured employees will now be known “non-probationary employees.”
In order to gain non-probationary status, an employee must complete three full, consecutive years of employment, concluding on June 15 in the third year.
Existing law states that after three consecutive years of service, a teacher would receive tenure by the last day of school. Students First states “covered employees attain non-probationary status after serving three consecutive years unless terminated by June 15 after the third year.”
The act also states that employees can only be terminated because of “just cause,” which includes: incompetency, insubordination, neglect of duty, immorality and failure to perform duties satisfactorily. It also states that teachers cannot be terminated based on any one measure of data, such as test scores. However, it does say that “consistent and pervasive” underachievement over time would be a cause for the board to consider termination.
In the next couple of years, students block scheduling could be changed. Instructional Coach Jeanne Welt presented the option to the board.
“It’s nothing that’s going to take place next year, but this seemed to be a good time for us to look at what we currently have and look to see if it’s really meeting all the needs of Madison city, “ she said. “With the building of the new high school, this was the best time to revisit that.”
Bob Jones students are currently on the 4×4 block schedule, where students have fewer, but longer classes per day. Welt said the other option being considered is the modified block schedule.
Bob Jones High School Principal Robby Parker opened the meeting by announcing five student candidates up for the Presidential Scholars Award Program. The awards go to students who scored a 35 and 36 on the ACT, the two highest scores possible.
Those students are: Katherine Boyer, Jacob Morris, Wayne Yu, Kelsey White and Hyungsup Lee.
Junior Paul Barrett, who scored perfectly was also recognized.
“To say it’s the top 1 percent of all students in America is an understatement,” Parker said.
The five at Bob Jones is the most in the state, according to Parker.
Mill Creek Elementary School Principal Melanie Barkley presented sixth-grade Math teacher Amber Merrill with the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics Award. Merrill received the award early due to her pregnancy.
Kevin Gunnison of Volkert and Associates gave an update on the new high school, expected to open in summer of 2012.
Gunnison said workers have rebounded from the slow winter workdays by working weekends and extended hours.
He also said the safe room located in the auxiliary gym requires a bit more work and special inspections, which they are in the process of doing.
In other actions, the board:
-Approved the February 2011 Financial and Bank Reconciliations statements, which had an ending balance of $84,000,000.
-Approved a Bob Jones High School wrestling building bid, which was said to be completed within the next six months.
-Approved an agreement by Finantra, Inc. and the Madison City Board of Education to hire Jana Gray as interim chief operating officer.
