L.A. school board seeks change in law to expedite firing of some teachers

The Los Angeles Unified School Board narrowly passed a resolution Tuesday making it a district priority to suggest changes to state law to expedite the firing of teachers accused of serious crimes.

A Times investigation found that firing permanent teachers can sometimes take years, and district officials say the process is cumbersome and expensive.

Teachers union officials said they were open to changing the system but opposed the resolution, saying they had not been included in discussions about the resolution.

It passed by a 4-3 margin.

-- Jason Song

Comments

[Jim W]

This is a good thing. However, let's not get too zealous. Committing a serious crime is grounds for firing, but having a personality clash with an administrator is not grounds for getting fired. Tenure is a good thing for us teachers. Otherwise we're at the mercy of sometimes ruthless principals. There is a very good system in effect now that monitors teacher effectiveness.

[Chris]

What is happening to SRLDP...District getting rid of credentialed teachers in pre-k for noncredendialted cheaper
daycare...Thanks Yolie Flores, Whitcomb Hayslipp, and consultant?

[Hal]

Did the LA School Board find out about this when they read it in the LA Times?

[LAUSD Teacher]

May I express my sincere congratulations on the teamwork exhibited by LAUSD board members and the Los Angeles Times, in their singularly distorted presentation of the teaching profession that has resulted in the proposed dismantling of due process rights for teachers either factually or falsely accused of a serious crime. As we all know the students would neeever think of making up false accusations of teachers who may hold them accountable for their behavior or academic performance.

As we rapidly retreat from the founding principles of our nation, namely the fact that you are innocent until proven guilty, I hope to see further collaborations between government and the media, and perhaps the church can be invited as well.

[Brian Burke]

I guess the more pressing question remains: will LAUSD eventually be able to remove weak, ineffective teachers or just those with a record? Perhaps the latter are the best?