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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

MI Lawmakers, Special Interests Battle over Opposing Teacher Tenure Bills

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011   

LANSING, Mich. - Teacher tenure in Michigan could dramatically change under House bills that could get a vote this week, even as the state Senate works on its own bill. And there are big differences between them. The House proposal would change teachers' rights during collective bargaining. The Senate bill focuses on smaller changes, like moving the process for dismissing a teacher from the state to the local level.

Spokesman Doug Pratt says the Michigan Education Association (MEA) supports the Senate bill. They believe it could save money by assigning a local arbitrator when there are questions about a teacher's performance.

"It actually focuses on the issues that people constantly refer to with tenure, and that is the time and the cost it takes to get rid of an ineffective teacher. We think that we need to focus on the real issues here, and that's what we're trying to do with this."

The House bills extend the period for gaining tenure from four years to five, and allow the firing of teachers if they are rated ineffective at least twice during that five-year period.

Pratt sees that as "an assault" on due process and collective bargaining rights. But supporters say it puts more emphasis on the pupils, the learning environment and standardized measurements to identify successful schools and teachers.

Pratt says MEA has endorsed the idea of tenure reform, but believes the House version complicates such issues as collective bargaining and basic protections for tenured teachers. He believes it could end up costing districts more money.

"The House bills make it illegal to negotiate about evaluations, placement, seniority. It takes away 'reasonable and just cause' as a provision - so, when you fire a teacher, you don't actually have to go back and prove that it has anything to do with their job performance."

The House bills are awaiting a Senate vote, and the Senate bill is still in committee.

House bills are a package, HB 4625 through 4628; Senate bill is SB 503.




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