This article is part of a PRO/CON opinion piece on Senate Bill 955. To view the opposing side, see here.
By Allie Campbell
Calendar Editor
In the face of the current California financial crisis, school districts have been forced to make drastic cuts. Because of this, several young and talented teachers have become casualties while more tenured teachers are almost impervious to termination.
California’s proposed legislation, Senate Bill 955, will give greater decision-making power to school districts and allow them to make decisions regarding teacher termination that save money and best benefit the students.
If passed, SB 955 will grant districts more time to announce teacher layoffs, allow districts to make layoffs based solely on their needs within departments and evaluations and reduce the many procedures in staff dismissal.
The current process of staff dismissal is very inefficient. Schools in California must notify teachers of layoffs by March 15, meaning districts must plan their budgets according to the worst-case scenario and give pink slips to teachers that will later be reinstated. In order to alleviate these inefficiencies the state legislature should pass SB 955.
Additionally, SB 955 would eliminate the seniority system for layoffs, which can keep ineffective senior teachers while younger, more effective ones are more susceptible to layoffs because of budget cuts. Instead, the bill would allow layoffs based on teacher quality rather than seniority, therefore providing students with the best teachers rather than the longest tenured.
Many fear that layoffs without restrictions based on seniority could lead to unfair terminations made for political reasons or to save money. However, if districts establish a transparent teacher evaluation system, this problem could be avoided and layoffs could be made through a combination of performance-based evaluation and districts’ needs for each department.
SB 955 also plans to shorten the dismissal process after employees are laid off. Currently, teachers go through a long legal process before being officially terminated. California’s Commission on Professional Competence has the final decision-making power with regard to the termination of certificated staff.
According to an L.A. Times investigation, Los Angeles Unified School District spends approximately $10 million annually on teachers who receive salaries but are not teaching while they are reviewed for job suitability.
While these teachers are not working but getting paid, the district is losing money and is forced to lay off even more teachers. SB 955 plans to give ultimate dismissal power to the district. This eliminates several intermediate steps, thus saving school funds.
Undoubtedly, the current evaluation and termination process for teachers is very inefficient and cumbersome. A clear alternative is needed to increase the effectiveness of the state’s school districts.
SB 955 is a far-reaching and effective piece of legislation that will benefit students by saving districts’ money and time and providing students with the best teachers. Effective teachers are the single-most important element in a student’s education, and SB 955 will help preserve them.
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