Cape school board votes to oppose Amendment 3

At its meeting Tuesday, the Cape Girardeau School Board unanimously approved a resolution opposing Amendment 3, a proposed change to the state constitution that would tie teacher evaluations to student performance.

Teachgreat.org, the group that spearheaded the amendment, has stopped campaigning for it, but the initiative remains on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

Superintendent Jim Welker said the resolution itself was put together and proposed by the Missouri School Boards' Association.

A number of educational organizations in Missouri are against Amendment 3, and a coalition called Protect Our Local Schools also has formed against it, he said.

Welker said there are several things about the amendment that are of concern, such as removing local control from teachers, parents, administrators and school boards; changing the way teachers are compensated by tying it to standardized test results; and the potential damage to teacher collaboration at schools.

Protect Our Local Schools and others say students would have to take additional standardized tests. This could cost districts upward of $1 billion statewide, officials said.

Welker noted that since it would be a constitutional amendment, there would be no recourse for districts.

" ... If there are flaws in it -- and there are flaws -- we couldn't fix it," he said.

Welker said the public has to be educated about how harmful the amendment could be. His remarks drew applause from the small audience of educators at the meeting.

In other business, the board:

* Recognized board member Tony Smee for earning the Advanced Board Member Award.

* Welker noted the board was recognized for winning the MSBA 2014 Governance Team Award.

* Recognized Central High School choir director Jordan Cox for winning the Missouri Choral Directors Association 2014 Outstanding District Director Award.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO