March 3, 2011 Consultation Agenda

HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

Please include the following to the March 3, 2011 Instructional Consultation agenda:

1. Effective Teachers Initiative

We are concerned about the way too ambitious timeline regarding the implementation of the new teacher evaluation. We are now a month away from the board voting on a final product when from our perspective we are no where near the completion of a final product. After board approval there remains the monumental and expensive job of training appraisers, and then teachers. We have only four professional development days available in August. It would make much more sense to slow this process down and pilot the new appraisal system in selected schools next year. It would mitigate the training costs in this very difficult budget year and also allow us to adjust the new system as needed.

2. Reductions In Force

We would like to formally request the district seniority list of teachers and teacher aides, by job code, from least experienced to most experienced.

3. Reductions In Force/Teach For America teachers

We have been told by building principals that Teach For America teachers are immune from reductions in force. Is this true?

4. Teach For America – next year

We have also been told the district intends to cut the number of TFA teachers hired by half next year. Why half? If there is a need for additional teachers next year, won’t those who have been reduced be recalled? There may not be a need for any TFA teachers.

5. Recruiting & Hiring

Why is the district continuing to recruit new teachers in the face of layoffs?