Senate rejects Virginia teacher-contract bill backed by McDonnell

Olympia Meola & Jim Nolan:

For a second time, the Virginia Senate has rejected Gov. Bob McDonnell's proposed overhaul of public school teacher and principal contracts, sending it back to committee and likely dealing a fatal blow to a key piece of his K-12 education agenda for the session.

With two days left before Saturday's scheduled adjournment, senators voted 23-17 on a motion by Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., R-Augusta, to send House Bill 576 back to the Education and Health Committee for consideration next year.

Three Republicans joined 20 Democrats in the vote. In February, senators had voted 20-18 to scuttle the Senate version of the plan.

The proposal would have phased out a tenure-like contract system in favor of a three-year term contract process under which it would be easier to dismiss teachers.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 12, 2012 1:58 AM
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