OPRF on the RIF - 'Illinois made us do it'

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 10:00 PM

There is a lot to like in the way the administration and school board at Oak Park and River Forest High School have handled the passionate objections of many students and some parents over the annual Reduction in Force (RIF) process underway at the school.

There was a special meeting last Thursday. Another special meeting Monday evening after the deadline for our editorial page. School officials have done a good job listening to the concerns raised about a process which gives early warning to any and all teachers who may not be rehired for the fall term. The school rightly points out that something similar happens most every year and in most every school district as administrators make sure they have the right number of teachers for the right courses for the next semester.

This process, which is mandated by state school code, plays out with every part-time teacher, every teacher filling in for a teacher on leave, and several other non-tenured faculty getting an April notice that they are being RIFed. Many, sometimes most, of those teachers are rehired since the school will still need a part-time photography teacher or someone else in the math department will go on leave.

This year, seemingly because a handful of top — but non-tenured — teachers made the cut list, coupled with the juice provided by social media, a small number of devoted students have been able to spark respectful outrage over the RIFs.

It is unclear what the school might do beyond the normal process of RIFing and mainly rehiring. Perhaps there will be some creative jockeying to open posts for highly valued teachers. With $100 million in the bank, the high school has the resources to make some strategic rehires.

What troubles us is the state school code which does, in fact, force school districts to make such decisions based on seniority (tenure) rather than on performance in the classroom. This is an obsolete protection that saves the jobs of substandard teachers while ejecting young talent from schools at a time when it is vital. Given the universal recognition of the immense impact exceptional teachers can make in the lives of students, a process that rules out considerations of merit ought to be insulting to all the great teachers in our schools.

There are rumbles that Springfield might loosen this regulation. We will believe it when we see it. Meanwhile, as OPRF begins a strategic planning process — its first in decades — and moves toward a new teachers contract in the aftermath of planning, focusing strongly on merit as the basis for all educational decisions can move us past the strictures of some aspects of the RIF process.

Reader Comments

9 Comments - Add Your Comment

Comment Policy

OPRF Achievement Gap

Posted: April 28th, 2012 8:02 AM

OPRF Goes to Springfield. This reminds us all, lets play by the RULES of the central government. Do as they say, and play with what you are given. Is that why Sen. Harmon lives in OP? Is that why Quinn is from OP and he spent time in RF. Come on, get on a bus & go to Springfield. Get active like the students did. Since when did we elect a Board that sits by the rules, knowing the rules are WRONG and do not best represent the Taxpayers. We Deserve Better representation from the OPRF Board.

OPRF Dad

Posted: April 19th, 2012 9:11 AM

I don't buy the argument that the State makes them do it this way. The school could assess its needs for the following year earlier and avoid having to send out notices and then rehire. The administration needs to be upfront on what changes they are making to departments, why these changes are necessary, and how this affects their hiring needs. Tenure rules came about because of unfair labor practices without them. Perhaps we need to look at how to make new labor rules that are fair for all.

OPRF Dad

Posted: April 19th, 2012 9:02 AM

When the board rehired 16 teachers on Monday they didn't do anything they wouldn't have done anyway as the timing for giving teachers dismissal notices and the understanding of future course needs are out of sync. I would like to hear from the board and the administration a clear explanation of the decisions that drove this RIF as well as the decisions about needs for rehiring. What I haven't heard is what is intended for the history and theater departments that bore the brunt of the RIF.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: April 18th, 2012 9:49 PM

Your question should be directed to the forum moderator. The banner at the top of the page indicates I am logged in as facebook verified.

Bell

Posted: April 18th, 2012 9:28 PM

Wheres the Facebook verified?

Jim Coughlin

Posted: April 18th, 2012 8:22 PM

Sorry if you misunderstood my post, AG. We likely agree. I support education reforms and believe that adminstrators, school boards and teachers need to work together. My concern is there's been a tendency to place too much blame on educators without taking into account the responsibilty parents have to make sure that their children are focused on learning. That means carefully monitoring their free time, making sure they understand the subject material and stressing that homework comes first.

OPRF Achievement Gap

Posted: April 18th, 2012 6:22 PM

@jim, really? You are telling us that what is right, is an attack unfairly on Teachers. Come on. Yes, great profession, & has impact on the most precious things we have. NO Doubt. However, to have a monopoly is one thing, to have the state in bed with the teachers union is another - but to say PERA is wrong? Yeah, as long as you can scam the system, stay under the radar and stay just long enough for tenure, YOU have a job for LIFE - regardless of the results or effectiveness?

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: April 18th, 2012 5:34 PM

Teachers have been unfairly targeted as responsible for the failures of the American education system. The majority are dedicated and responsible professionals who devote themselves to encouraging our children to love learning. Every profession has it's bad apples. They are lousy and incompetent doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, newspaper editors, musicians, plumbers,politicians, etc.,. Parents need to accept that they share the task with teachers to make sure that their children are are learning

Teacher from oak park

Posted: April 18th, 2012 3:32 PM

The law has been passed and will go into effect in a couple of years, depending on the district. During a RIF, PERA (Performance Evaluation Reform Act) allows teachers with better evaluations be retained regardless of seniority. However, this can be used by administration to get rid of more expensive teachers in favor of younger, cheaper (and often more compliant and less empowered) teachers. Still, it's a start.

What's new on OakPark.com