Springfield School Board Vows to Strongly Oppose Amendment 3

By Claudette RileyCRILEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

The Springfield school board is gearing up for a big fight.

It strongly opposes a proposed change to the Missouri Constitution, known as Amendment 3, that would end teacher tenure and require student test scores to dominate teacher evaluations.

Between now and Nov. 4, when voters decide its fate, the board plans to explain exactly why, from its perspective, the change would be "bad for kids."

"I don't know anybody in education that thinks this is a good idea," said board vice president Andy Hosmer. "I'm still looking."

The board took a unanimous stand last week, approving a resolution against the measure. More than 80 school boards — including Willard, Logan-Rogersville, and Monett — have passed similar resolutions in recent weeks.

"This is appalling to me," said Springfield board president Denise Fredrick, a former teacher and administrator. "You will hear more from me because I will be very vocal about this."

Teach Great, the organization driving the proposal — and largely funded by St. Louis billionaire activist Rex Sinquefield — made a sweep of the state this summer. It argued that by tying teacher evaluations to student test scores, achievement levels would go up and make it easier for schools to get rid of low-performing teachers.

But the group recently pulled back, announcing it would shut it doors. It stated that while it believes in the ballot measure, it believes the timing is wrong.

With or without Teach Great, the measure remains on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The loss of an organized, statewide campaign for passage has done little to dampen the resolve of the opposition.

Under the proposal, at least 51 percent of a teacher's evaluation would be based on student test scores. Those evaluations would be used to make employment decisions, determine pay and identify which staff would go if there was a reduction.

Teacher contracts would also be limited to three years, effectively doing away with tenure. Collective bargaining over teacher evaluations would also be prohibited.

There isn't a clear fiscal note. The district expects the additional testing, implementation and legal challenges to be expensive.

Both Springfield teacher unions urged the school board to take a stand.

Kittilu Maxson, president of the Springfield National Education Association, said tying employment to a "one-size-fits-all, high stakes testing event" would put too much emphasis on testing and take away the current focus on "the growth and progress of our students."

Maxson fears that experienced teachers who elect to work with struggling students would be faced with the reality of having "their jobs on the line." "What teacher would continue to be willing to take that risk?" she asked.

Board member Gerry Lee said addressing issues like teacher evaluations through an amendment is the wrong approach, arguing it eliminates local control.

"You just don't put personnel decisions in a constitution," Lee said. "…It's putting it in black and white and saying it's the way it's going to be irrespective of situations, irrespective of circumstances."

Superintendent John Jungmann said school employees are limited in what they can do. State law prohibits the use of public resources to advocate, support or oppose any ballot measure of candidate for public office.

For that reason, the board is expected to be at the forefront.

"Obviously, we're many, many weeks from election time. It will ramp up drastically as we get into the last two or three weeks," he told the board this month. "We want you to be prepared. We want your voice to be heard."

Taking a stand

In late August, the Springfield school district sent a note to all employee acknowledging that Amendment 3 is "an important issue and one that is close to the hearts of many in our community." While employees can express their opinions and share information with others, they must not use public resources to do that.

State law prohibits the use of such resources to "advocate, support, or oppose any ballot measure or candidate for public office."

For example, staff are not to express their opinions, for or against it, using district email, paper, copiers, printers, fax machines, telephones and school mailboxes. They also can't post information on walls or bulletin boards.

Staff aren't allowed to "use their position" to express feelings or opinions about the issue. Violations of that include:

• Discussing the amendment in class or with students

• Using student mailing lists

• Sending information home with students

• Wearing buttons, stickers, or clothing containing information about this issue

Ballot language

A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to require teachers to be evaluated by a standards-based performance evaluation system. Each system must receive state approval in order for the local school district to continue receiving state and local funding. Teachers will be dismissed, retained, demoted, promoted and paid primarily using quantifiable student performance data as part of the evaluation system. The amendment further requires teachers to enter into contracts of three years or fewer with public school districts, with exceptions. The amendment also prohibits teachers from organizing or collectively bargaining regarding the design and implementation of the teacher evaluation system.