Front and center: Amendment 3 pushes teacher tenure into the spotlight

Tenure in Missouri public schools recently has come under pressure with a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would, among other things, require teachers to be evaluated by a standards-based performance system.

The item stipulates that each local school district must receive state approval to continue receiving state and local funding.

Amendment 3, set to be on the Nov. 4 ballot, would tie evaluations to student performance.

Krista Meyer, political action manager of the Missouri State Teachers Association, said if teachers have been teaching in the same district for five years, they're granted due process rights by statute.

"Before that, they're at-will," Meyer said.

Five years, she said, is probably the longest probationary period used around the country. Some states use one to three years.

The purpose of tenure, Meyer said, is to protect teachers from being fired for no cause.

"There are a lot of things teachers are asked to do that people don't do in their regular lives. They have to parent, they have to advocate, buy their own supplies," she said. "Try to find a teacher who hasn't bought clothes or toiletries for their students. It's very common."

Mike Sherman, communications director for Protect Our Local Schools, a coalition of parents, teachers, principals, superintendents and school boards, said the organization has gained a "ton of support" statewide.

"We're talking to all 520 school districts across Missouri," Sherman said. "All these districts are strongly against this measure."

That's because they feel it would take local control away from parents, teachers, superintendents and principals and "hand it over to Jefferson City."

"We have people on the ground in all regions of the state," Sherman said. "Teachers at the very local level are forming opposition committees, so they're working together. ... We're building this campaign from the grassroots level. We're going to every corner of the state talking to everybody that will listen to us."

Kate Casas, spokeswoman for teachgreat.org, which spearheaded the ballot initiative, said members of her group, too, are talking to everyone they can. She said their campaign is just starting and also takes a grassroots approach.

"There's a lot of misinformation out there," Casas said. "There's a lot of unnecessary fear out there about this measure. ... We feel certain that once we take our message to voters, we'll also gain a lot of support."

She said she's not surprised Protect Our Local Schools has gained traction with its money and resources. But if her group counters with accurate information, she said it will get backing "where it counts, with the people in the voting booth."

On the local control issue, Casas identified seniority, tenure and indefinite contracts in the measure. She said it gives control to school boards where they currently have none.

"They also currently have to make decisions about layoffs based on seniority. Under our measure, they will have control over the length of their contracts and be able to make layoff decisions not based on seniority," Casas said.

MSTA's website says a tenured teacher can be fired if:

* The teacher has a physical or mental condition that renders him or her unfit to instruct or associate with children.

* For immoral conduct.

* For incompetence, inefficiency or insubordination in the line of duty.

* For willful or persistent violation of Missouri's school laws or the local school district's published policies or regulations.

* For excessive or unreasonable absences.

* For conviction of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude on probation for five years.

Meyer noted that districts try to help struggling teachers improve, because it's generally "a lot cheaper to help someone you've already hired." Some teachers may decide to leave the profession.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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