Commentary on proposed Taxpayer Supported Madison School District Layoff Policies

Scott Girard:

A slate of controversial proposed changes to teacher layoff rules in the Madison Metropolitan School District was back in front of the School Board Monday night.

District administration has proposed making seniority just 10% of the decision of who to lay off, a significant change from the current system that relies entirely on seniority. The proposal would also add a second layoff notice window in addition to the end-of-school-year notice currently permitted, allowing the district to lay off teachers in November if enrollment is lower than anticipated.

Madison Teachers Inc. has expressed concern about the proposal, specifically mentioning the potential subjectivity of the other 90% of the layoff decision under the proposed guide. District officials maintain that it is a key part of a broader strategy aimed at recruiting and retaining more teachers of color, who are more likely to be recent hires.

A vote on the proposed changes is expected at the board’s March 22 meeting.

2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results

Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.

My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results

“An emphasis on adult employment”

Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]

Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.