We had a great turnout for last night’s forum. Eighty-five to ninety people came to hear East Side members of the City Council and General Assembly answer questions from the audience about the future of Providence Public Education. Many thanks to our panelists for their willingness to appear and take questions. ESPEC steering committee member Michelle McKenzie did a great job as moderator.
I encourage attendees to post your reactions in the comment section below.
The forum covered a number of topics, from funding to consolidation of school districts, to after-school programs, but things really heated up when the question of “bumping” of teachers was addressed. Each spring, large numbers of Providence teachers are laid off because the funds to pay their salaries are dependent on state budgets which are not approved until June. Priority is given to senior teachers. Newer teachers, often highly talented and successful, are displaced. The process appears to be very wasteful because, when funds are approved the majority teachers are hired back, but they often return only as long-term substitutes with uncertain futures, or as “permanent” teachers with the prospect of being bumped again next year. Some teachers are hired away by other districts before Providence has a chance to hire them back, and others give up. The story was told of an extremely talented high-school science teacher who was bumped twice, and eventually went elsewhere.
Panelists responded to the audience’s concerns over the disruption and loss of talented teachers caused by bumping by indicating that they would be willing to introduce legislation to limit or end the practice. The ESPEC steering committee plans to continue research on the problem and to work on shaping a legislative solution. We hope the community will assist by giving your input as well.
Here is a link to Linda Borg’s story in the ProJo.
Update: And here is a link to the Brown Daily Herald Story.
We have both audio and video of the meeting. After some editing work, we hope to post them for those who missed the meeting,
Be careful what you wish for re:bumping. Bumping sucks. Heck, I was bumped, and not coincidentally I’m no longer a teacher in Providence. But these are complicated problems, and bumping is ultimately a symptom of a screwed up budgetary process. If you don’t understand all the moving parts in the system, you’ll end up with weird unexpected consequences.
For example, as I understand it right now, every year, X number of layoff notices are sent out based on districtwide seniority. Let’s say we move to a system where the layoffs are distributed as evenly as possible throughout the district schools and then principals decide who is laid off. The principal, every year, is going to decide who is laid off, and if you have all good teachers in your school, you’re still laying off good teachers, and you are increasing the insecurity of every teacher in the district. What’s that going to do for the school climate?
Sure, your current principal may be great and like you, but what about the next one? What’s the turnover rate of principals in Providence? How often will a new principal be deciding who to lay off after six months and maybe one observation of the teacher? What if the new Superintendent (one every three years) brings in some loathsome curriculum that good, experienced teachers chafe against. Will they be the first to go in the new regime?
Or we could have a system that tried to establish a ranking of teacher quality across the district. Doing that in a way that wouldn’t be gamed for all sorts of perverse reasons and ways is a task I wouldn’t want to take on, but perhaps you do.
In short, bumping sucks, but COMPLETE BUDGETARY CHAOS sucks worse, and whatever you replace bumping with is likely to suck just as bad, but in a much more complicated and political way.
Tom,
Thanks for the very thoughtful comment. I think we agree that a large part of the problem comes from the bugetary process, especially the timing of it. It’s also clear that you are correct that the “moving parts” are complex and interrelated. I’m going to try to post a great powerpoint slideshow that one of our members, Harlan Rich, put together to illustrate how and why bumping happens.
As for the authority of principals, we’re familiar with, and discouraged by, the high rate of principal turnover. Your point about the dangers of unbridled principal discretion to dismiss is well-taken. A point made last night, however, is that it’s possible to design a system to replace mindless seniority privilege that also protects teachers from arbitrary treatment.
We believe that a reform of the budget cycle might be part of the solution. We’re optimistic that it can be done, and we’re willing to be part of the effort to do it.
Since state laws play such a role here, do other districts have the same problem? If not, why?
We need to get rid of this arcane law regarding bumping. I know of no world class organization which is managed with such a seniority system. Yet, our kids must eventually compete in a global economy. Let’s not tie of their hands behind their backs. Let’s give principals more “hire and fire” authority. The law may have made sense in 1946, but not today. We must count on our elected officials to change this, now!
Tom,
Good question. I have heard some do, but we’ll have to research to find this out. The state funding isn’t announced until June, and it’s very unpredictable, which is why some argue for a more predictable formula.
It’s possible that some districts have managed to arrange the timing so they are less deeply affected, but I don’t know how.