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Statement by MTA President on Task Force on State Intervention

Statement by MTA President Catherine A. Boudreau on the report of the governor's Task Force on State Intervention in Under-Performing Districts

The governor's proposals do nothing to address the most serious problem in our schools right now, which is that the governor's education budget cuts are hurting students by increasing class sizes and wiping out successful educational programs. We see nothing in the Task Force report that would address this concern, which is a top priority for administrators, school committee members, municipal officials and teachers alike.

On the plan to accelerate firing teachers for "good cause":
This proposal is both unnecessary and divisive. The Education Reform Act of 1993 established clear standards for teacher dismissal, including changing the standard for dismissal from "just cause" to the much lower standard of "good cause" in schools that are deemed to be chronically underperforming. There is not one shred of evidence that making the changes the governor is recommending would help student achievement.

On the plan to remove administrators from the union:
This is just one more strategy of Governor Romney's to try to weaken the union and strip rights away from as many public employees as he possibly can. Again, this proposal has absolutely nothing to do with making schools work better and everything to do with undermining employee rights.

What should be done instead:
Struggling schools do need a lot more assistance, and constructive help from the state would be welcome. Unfortunately, that help is in short supply. That is why the MTA and NEA have established our own Priority Schools Initiative, where we will be working very closely with 8 to 10 low-performing schools for at least three years, helping them with the difficult tasks of diagnosing their problems and improving their curricula and teaching practices. This is where the state should be focusing its energies.