Rhee Seeks Tenure-Pay Swap for Teachers

WaPo ^ | 7-3-08 | V. Dion Haynes

[Amelia]

Those who voluntarily go into the green tier would receive thousands of dollars in bonuses and raises, funded with foundation grants, for relinquishing tenure. Teachers in the green tier would be reviewed yearly and would be allowed to continue in their jobs only if they passed an evaluation and boosted students' test scores

Hey, I'd take that bet....and I think I'd win. ;-)

[KC_for_Freedom]

Yes,
this is the kind of contract position that effective teachers should ask for. I would opt green in an instant, since I am a probationary teacher next year anyway (Returning is the reason). But when I was teaching with tenure (9 years) I was still laid off by the senority rule. It would have been nicer to be in the higher paid group. I wonder what they will do with layoffs? For the teachers who are already evaluated each year? would that evaluation cause them to be kept or let go first?

[4Liberty]

I am a teacher in California (Community College) as well.

You ask excellent questions.

Since the Unions get 1% of members’ pay checks, this seems to be a win-win for them. Higher pay = more funds for unions, and for their political activities (democrat, obviously) — since half of the 1 percent goes to political or “non chargeable” dues, meaning political cause of Dems — campaign donations to dem pols, dem ballot propositions, etc.

But — the very first time one of the non-tenured persons who opted for this plan is fired, you know there will be a grievance filed. We’ll then see how much mettle this new system really has, or if it is in fact, an entirely corrupt scheme to get more money from taxpayers, for transfer to the Dem Party.

4L

[KC_for_Freedom]

Well stated. I have always been for teacher-administration negotiation about job, salary, and responsibilities. I blame the union for the loss of my first teaching job, since the district needed math teachers but had to lay off based on senority and I had low senority. Of course I have not liked the use of senority in any of my jobs (engineer) but would love to see merit systems take over. (I won’t hold my breath though.)