April 17, 2012

HADDAD MEETS WITH LOCAL ED BOARD TO DISCUSS REFORM BILL

By Michelle Firestone, The Chronicle

MANSFIELD — A somewhat controversial teacher evaluation process proposed by the state education committee was addressed by the Mansfield school board at its meeting last Thursday, when it met with state Rep. Gregory Haddad, D-Mansfield.

The board met with him to discuss Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed education reform plan and the changes that have been made to it.

It is a comprehensive plan that has various provisions, including an increase in federal funds and parental involvement during the teacher evaluation process.

It has already been revised substantially from Malloy’s proposed plan.

“I think this, as I said before, is still under active discussion at the capitol,” said Haddad. Mansfield Board of Education Vice Chairman Shamim Patwa was concerned that not enough education officials were consulted regarding the proposed plan.

“Who is being brought in to really help to craft this bill?” she asked Haddad.

Haddad has been to various meetings regarding the proposed reforms, including a forum held by Malloy in Willimantic recently, where many teachers expressed their views.

“The bill is going to be negotiated much like our state budget is negotiated,” said Haddad. “ I have a lot of faith in our (legislature) education committee.”

One hot topic was the concept of involving parents in teacher evaluations.

Haddad, who conducted many employee evaluations during his professional career, felt school officials can put themselves in an “uncomfortable position” if they open up employee reviews to public comment from different groups.

He noted, however, that in a lot of communities, parental involvement in the schools is “really lacking and the students suffer because of it.”

Patwa defended some of those parents.

“ There are a lot of hard-working, well-meaning parents who for some reason can’t access the educational system in the same way,” said Patwa.

“A fair number of parents probably deserve the criticism, but there are some that don’t,” said Haddad.

Board member Holly Matthews thought that by having parents involved in the teacher evaluation process, school officials would have a better indication of how the students are doing in the classroom.

“I don’t always see students progress on the testing, especially students who are challenged,” she said. Board member Martha Kelly said that evaluation criteria is important “so that a professional teacher can improve.”

The reform plan, according to Haddad, includes an option for teachers to receive a “more distinguished” designation after completing their master’s degree. “I just think there’s another component to helping teachers be the best they can be,” said Haddad.

Board members were also concerned about the minimum budget requirement, a law that dictates that school boards must allocate at least the same amount of funding in their budget that they did the previous year.

The exception to this provision is if enrollment goes down, districts can budget up to $3,000 less per lost student.

This fiscal year, Mansfield was $16,000 below MBR standards and the amount was made up via an appropriation from the town’s undesignated fund balance.

The law, Haddad explained, is “really intended to make sure the resources that are intended for the school system get to the school system” and are not absorbed by the town.

He noted that some communities absorb Education Cost Sharing funding, a federal grant, as part of the town spending plan.

While there were many “painful cuts” in parts of the state budget for education, ECS funds were not one of them, said Haddad.

Both versions of the education reform bill include a more than $50 million increase in ECS funds.

According to Haddad, this includes $85,000 more in funds for Mansfield next year.

For Haddad, this was good news.

“Many communities are really fighting tooth and nail for the funding they feel they need for their school system,” said Haddad.

He indicated the Mansfield Board of Education is fortunate to have a good working relationship with the town council.