The state's largest teachers union is giving Gov. Bobby Jindal a big ole attaboy for signing a bill designed to tweak the appeals process for fired teachers.
[Editor's Note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.)
The state's largest teachers union is giving Gov. Bobby Jindal a big ole attaboy for signing a bill designed to tweak the appeals process for fired teachers. The governor's office announced on Tuesday that he had signed the bill by state Rep. Jeff Thompson. It takes effect immediately.
Teachers unions had argued policies pushed into law by Jindal in 2012 violated their due process rights because they weighted appeals hearings against a teacher.
The 2-year-old law created a system where a tenured teacher accused of being ineffective and fired could request a review before a three-person panel, with appointees from the superintendent, the principal who did the firing and the teacher.
Under the new law, superintendents will name a hearing officer to consider appeals, and both the superintendent and teacher can challenge the decision in court.
The Louisiana Association of Educators released a statement Wednesday endorsing the tweak to the law:
LAE leaders applaud Governor Jindal for signing legislation into law that will make the state's teacher dismissal procedures more fair. LAE President Debbie Meaux said this action came after much debate and compromise between officials from the LAE, Governor Jindal's office, and representatives of other education stakeholder groups.
"The law is definitely in a better posture than it was in before," Meaux said. "Our participation in the collaboration process demonstrates that good people can make changes for the good of all. The discussions we had were open and direct, and the end result should help to begin rebuilding teachers' confidence in the system which has eroded since Act 1 was enacted in 2012."