Benicia school board to consider layoffs – Vallejo Times Herald

Times-Herald staff report Posted:

The Benicia school board will consider Thursday cutting several classified positions.

By law, districts must give classified employees a 60-day notice of potential layoff.

Slated for reduction this year are three Title One Instructional Assistants, a computer resource technician and a computer resource technician at Liberty High School.

At Thursday’s meeting, the Benicia Unified School District and the classified employees union will also both sunshine their proposals for the next round of contract negotiations.

The board meets at 7 p.m. Thursday after a 6 p.m. closed session at the district offices, 350 East K St.

via Benicia school board to consider layoffs – Vallejo Times Herald.

Deal announced on teacher dismissal bill that governor would support | EdSource Today

By John Fensterwald

Signaling the resolution of an acrimonious issue, Assembly Education Committee Chairwoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, introduced a bill Friday to make dismissing teachers charged with severe misconduct quicker, easier and cheaper.

Buchanan praised the compromise that was reached, and said that Gov. Jerry Brown, who vetoed her version of the bill last year, would sign it. Brown spokesman Jim Evans confirmed in an email, “As introduced, the Administration supports Assemblymember Buchanan’s approach.”

“I want to thank the education community for its willingness to continue to work on this critical issue,” Buchanan said in a statement. “We share a common goal of keeping our children safe and providing a fair and efficient process.”

via Deal announced on teacher dismissal bill that governor would support | EdSource Today.

Vallejo school board OKs layoff notices for 40 positions – Vallejo Times Herald

By Lanz Christian Bañes

The Vallejo school board approved Wednesday issuing preliminary layoff notices to teachers while expressing regret for the procedure.

“Its a draconian process,” trustee Adrienne Waterman said of the legal requirement for districts to notify certificated employees of potential layoffs by March 15.

On the list this year were the equivalent of 25 full-time teaching positions at the elementary school.

Sheila Gradwohl, president of the Vallejo Education Association, said it was difficult for teachers who received layoff notices, especially if they will be rehired by the district again later in the budget process.

via Vallejo school board OKs layoff notices for 40 positions – Vallejo Times Herald.

Effort to shorten process of firing teachers faltering again | EdSource Today

By 

For the second straight year, legislation to quicken and simplify dismissal procedures for teachers is in danger of running aground.

Last year, the state’s teachers unions thwarted a sweeping rewrite of the dismissal law that they argued was excessive. This year, teachers groups have signed on, but groups representing districts and administrators are objecting that the legislation would be ineffective, even counterproductive. Los Angeles Unified supports several amendments but is supportive overall, Edgar Zazueta, the district’s chief lobbyist, said.

Effort to shorten process of firing teachers faltering again | EdSource Today.

The Educated Guess: In meeting of the minds, CTA also backs teacher dismissal bill

With unusual speed, the California Teachers Association on Friday endorsed a bill Assemblymember Joan Buchanan introduced three days ago that would quicken the process for dismissing teachers. The teachers association joins Sen. Alex Padilla, who is dropping his own dismissal bill in support of Buchanan’s, thus creating a consensus among opposite sides of one of the most contentious issues last year in the Legislature.

via In meeting of the minds, CTA also backs teacher dismissal bill – by John Fensterwald.

EdSource Today: Alternative bill to speed up teacher dismissals introduced

By 

A year ago, Assemblymember Joan Buchanan cast a deciding vote killing a bill that would have pared back the process for firing teachers and administrators alleged to have done egregious acts against children. She said the legislation dealt with a narrow subset of dismissal cases and failed to deal with cumbersome procedures affecting all dismissals.

On Tuesday, Buchanan, who now chairs the Education Committee, introduced her own bill, which takes a different tack while, she says, achieving the same goal: quickening the time it takes to dismiss teachers, with particular provisions applying to those charged with sexual acts and drug offenses involving children.

via Alternative bill to speed up teacher dismissals introduced – by John Fensterwald.