In addition to a new interest in student attendance, each building must post the daily attendance rate of its certificated staff in the front foyer of the building.
Undoubtedly, students learn better when they are taught by their normal teacher - the one that they have developed a good relationship with and knows all the rules and procedures of the classroom. The content will be more enriching when taught by a content-area expert rather than a substitute teacher - no matter how wonderful that particular substitute may be.
There are a variety of reasons why a teacher may be absent from school on any particular day:
1 - Pulled out for grading or calibrating district assessments.
2 - Pulled out for data talks and examination.
3 - Gone to attend district-approved professional development, sporting events, etc.
4 - Pulled out for collaboration or professional development.
5 - Personal and private reasons related to family or personal health.
6 - Long term sickness or pregnancy.
7 - Medical appointments.
8 - All the reasons listed in Board policy.
Principals will probably receive a report with their schools "ranking" and there will be great pressure to keep your teacher absences as low as possible. This will probably lead to more "questions" being asked about a teacher's leave -making a staff member feel as if they need to reveal personal or private information to justify their absence. Buildings with young teachers that take maternity leave will have their number skewed. Teachers who have chronic illnesses or family members who need extended care may also feel guilty for bringing down the number.
Remember last year at Convocation when Hinson nearly teared up asking us to take care of ourselves and our families first?
Clearly, the District has an interest in making sure that employees are not abusing the sick and personal leave policy. A healthy HR process would seek out information and attempt to understand why so many employees are using their leave. Is it burnout? Is it too much district-sponsored leave? Is it something else entirely? Does it depend on the building? Are there buildings where the absence rate for teachers may indicate a problem with the school climate and leadership?
Whatever the reason, posting the attendance rate - in an apparent attempt to shame the teachers - is not an effective approach. When employees are treated like adults - they will respond like adults. When employees are treated like children, they will respond like children.
It's like these people sit up there on the 2nd floor behind their locked doors in meeting rooms trying to think of how many ways they can make life miserable for staff. Have they taken a serious look at the turnover rate this year? It's incredible.
ReplyDeleteDr. Herl needs to open his eyes and realize that morale in the district is next to nothing. People are asking why they should work hard when it feels like the higher ups are looking for ways to berade them.
The district is in a sad position. It's not just teachers. Support staff too. Buildings and grounds, technical support, food service, business and financial and transportation. Every one of those departments has been mistreated in one way or another. The food service director has been under investigation for treatment of her employees for well ocer a year now. There has been SIGNIFICANT proof delivered to the suits.....but since she also owns a catering company that makes donations to ISD, her job is safe. She even catered Hinson's daughter's wedding...another deal made to lock in job security. Let's see if Herl is able to look at the facts or will also turn a blind eye to employees who have been mistreated.
Central office has addressed sub useage as a concern. They want to keep this as low as possible. New policies to put undue stress on staff will end up with more time away from work.
Wake up Dr. Herl.......spend a little less time on the sports fields and a little more time trying to save this district from continuing on this dark path.
Dr. Herl had the doors unlocked on day one.
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that the public and staff have freer access to the CO administrators without wading through layers of "Security"? I remember when we could walk into the CO and go directly to anyone's office door to chat or ask for a minute of their time. But that was also when we had administrators who were interested in the morale and welfare of the staff, and who didn't treat constructive input as a threat to their authority.
DeleteDear Watching ISD blogger: Please post some new stuff or this site is going to begin losing traffic!!!
ReplyDeleteYou get more ants to work with you and for you than with vinegar! They have been pouring a lot of vinegar!!
ReplyDeleteThat was supposed to say you get more ants to work with you and for you with sugar!! They are pouring a lot of vinegar!! What happened to the good old days?
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