Forwarded by list manager David Brauer:
From: Minneapolis School Board <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: July 8, 2004 11:11:29 AM CDT To: undisclosed-recipients: ; Subject: Teacher Realignment
For immediate release Contact: Cheri Reese, Executive Director of Public Affairs 612-668-0231
Minnesota Teacher Tenure Law Governs Teacher Realignment Process in Minneapolis Public Schools
Minneapolis, MN—In the wake of recent teacher layoffs, the Minneapolis Public Schools has realigned tenured teachers according to rules established by the Minnesota Teacher Tenure Law. The reduction of 608 teachers for next fall reflects an anticipated enrollment decline of 4,600 students from Fall 2003 to Fall 2004.
“Staff layoffs of this magnitude are extremely difficult,” said Interim
Superintendent Mitch Trockman. “While the district has made every effort
to minimize the disruption caused by teacher layoffs, we are bound by a
landmark court decision that dictates how school districts must apply
seniority in teacher layoffs.”
In the case of Arlene M. Strand, Edward P. Lue and Barbara Johnson v. Special School District No.1, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 1986 that the Teacher Tenure Act requires districts to save tenured teaching positions by realigning teachers who hold multiple teaching licenses.
Law dictates that realignment must be educationally “reasonable and practical.” Legally, this interpretation is very narrow. The Minnesota Department of Education considers a teacher qualified for teaching in a given area if the person holds a valid license in that area. Thus, several tenured teachers who hold more than one license have been reassigned to a new area.
For example, a third-grade tenured teacher who holds an arts license in
addition to her elementary teaching license would be reassigned to an
art position held by a less senior teacher, thereby preventing the
layoff of a tenured, elementary teacher. Legal precedent requires the
district to realign teachers in this manner. An attorney from Education
Minnesota has worked collaboratively with the district’s human resources
department in the realignment process to ensure that the district is
following the letter of the law.
“The district will make every attempt to mitigate disruptions caused by this realignment process,” noted Trockman. “We will hold staff orientations and trainings for teachers who are entering areas of instruction that may be new to them.”
# # #
REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
