Early returns showed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to extend
the probationary period for school teachers losing narrowly,
causing local teachers to watch the polls closely as they hoped it
would continue to head for defeat.
Hollister – Early returns showed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to extend the probationary period for school teachers losing narrowly, causing local teachers to watch the polls closely as they hoped it would continue to head for defeat.
At press time, with 42 percent of California precincts reporting, 47.7 percent supported the measure and 52.2 percent opposed it. Several of the state’s most populated areas, including Los Angeles, Orange and San Francisco counties, had not reported complete results.
“Hopefully this will be another one that we dodged the bullet on,” Hollister Elementary School Teachers Association President Jan Grist said Tuesday. “I don’t think this will go away until politicians own up to the fact that our schools are being underfunded.”
Schwarzenegger promoted Proposition 74, known as the teacher tenure initiative, as part of his once-ambitious agenda to reform California schools. Besides extending the probationary period for beginning teachers from two years to five, the measure also would give school officials more power to fire bad veteran teachers.
Schwarzenegger has said the measure would make teachers more accountable and free school districts from the procedural burdens they face in trying to oust underperforming teachers who already have permanent status. Under the measure, a school district could fire a new teacher for any reason during their first five years. The previous probationary period for new teachers was two years.
That’s why David San Miguel, of Hollister, voted for the proposition.
“I feel that it’s a good idea to have a longer waiting period,” he said. “You can have more time to evaluate. If (teachers) aren’t doing their job within five years they should be let go.”
Republican Central Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Zapata believes the close results are an affirmation from the voters that teachers need to be held accountable, even if the measure fails.
“Just the fact that this was on the ballot and that it was so close says something,” she said. “It will make all teachers strive for higher standards.”
Some beginning teachers said they might be less willing to speak out about policies with which they disagree if it means they could be fired.
Teachers union officials and some education groups fiercely fought the proposal, arguing that it was unnecessary and would make it even harder to attract and retain well-qualified teachers as the state tries to raise standards.
San Benito High School California Teachers Association President Chuck Schallhorn was concerned about the plight of 20 to 30 teachers who would returned to temporary status if the measure passed and was pleased to see the results showing that the measuring was failing.
“This will make it easier for teachers to continue being teachers,” he said. “Rather than forcing them to go through five years of fear of making the wrong person angry.”
Under Proposition 74, beginning teachers would face annual reviews for five years while teachers with permanent status would continue to be evaluated every two years. Senior teachers with two consecutive poor reviews could be fired.
Regardless of final results, Hollister voter Francisco Barron was convinced he made the right choice.
“I voted ‘no’ on 74. Teachers deserve better than that,” he said after casting his ballot Tuesday outside of Portuguese Hall. “They shouldn’t have to wait that long – it’s not fair.”
Proponents of the measure said current law forces administrators to file a poor-performance evaluation and compile up to 150 pages documenting problems before poor teachers can be dismissed. Veteran teachers worried the initiative could leave them open to the changing whims of principals.
Proposition 74 also would give teachers unions the power to negotiate the terms of performance reviews with their districts, but some school administrators worried that could lead to protracted negotiations and more grievances.
With all the votes tallied, San Benito County showed strong opposition to Proposition 74, with 58 percent opposing and only 42 percent supporting it.
