Lawsuit on hold while teachers, Providence schools talk
11:58 AM Fri, Nov 06, 2009 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. District Court Judge William Smith has ordered a 90-day stay while the Providence Teachers' Union and Superintendent Thomas Brady try to work out their differences over a state-ordered teacher assignment plan. Union President Steve Smith said that both parties will hire a mediator to help them reach an agreement over the new criterion-based hiring plan adopted by the district this summer. Brady imposed the change after former Education Commissioner Peter McWalters ordered the district to create a more rigorous method of hiring teachers, one based on the needs of the students rather than the number of years a teacher has in the system. In August, the union filed suit in U.S. District Court to prevent the school district from abolishing senioriity as the primary method for filling vacancies. Starting in six pilot schools this fall, the district has replaced seniority with an extensive application and interview process that allows principals to choose their faculty. 
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Typically it's not a very wise thing to sue your employer especially when you nice job. Considering Providence teachers can make more than $80 an hour, I don't know what they're complaining about. How many of the parents who send their children to Providence schools can bring in $80 per hour? Many are making just $8 and you have selfish teachers who are making $80K a year complaining that they actually have to perform. If you don't want the job, quit!
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if the teachers with seniority really deserve getting put into the best jobs, then they should be able to prove it with their performance on any qualifying tests, don't you think? As opposed to solely relying on "surviving" in the job for the longest amount of time. . . the culture of entitlement, instead of merit, astounds me. . .
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I would love to be a fly on the wall and be able to listen to Smith and Reback explain the benefits of seniority and the detriments of a merit-based system. Please Projo, report on this as we all need a good chuckle.
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STEP 10 $73,610 A YEAR, BUT WAIT, YOU HAVE TO ADD AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF 3% EACH AND COMPOUNDED TO GET THE ANNUAL SALARY? TRY $100,000 PER YEAR FOR 180 DAYS OF WORK. AND DON'T FORGET THE HEALTH CARE AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
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This is exactly why binding arbitration would ruin this state. Could you imagine if this was something that needed to be arbitrated? Unions would win hands down and would allow them to protect the senior teachers who don;t even deserve to teach. Case and point - My sister is a teacher (has been for over 20 years) and works many late hours. The teacher next door who is also a 20 year veteran to her was leaving the first day of school and shouted out - only 168 days left! This very same teacher makes sure she leaves right on time and unfortunately passes her kids onto my sisters class without being prepared. We need to keep the best and brightest and get rid of the ones who are ruining our children.
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Like someone posted on Prjo earlier; they could may a lot of money making building troughs in this state and teachers would get first preference because of repeat visits. You teachers should have quit while you were ahead.
And the earlier post about why the GA is talking behindlosed doors. To keep out the union lobbyists so the GA can figure out what to do with the teachers...... Be afraid teachers; be very afraid!!!! cs
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