State House OKs changes to teacher layoffs

Legislation that would bar seniority from playing a role in Missouri teacher layoffs was narrowly approved Thursday by the state House.

School districts forced to reduce staff because of declining student enrollment, reorganization or financial problems no longer would be banned from laying off a tenured teacher while keeping staff members who have not yet earned tenure protections. Under the bill, teachers' seniority and salaries could not be a consideration when administrators choose which teachers to keep, and performance would need to be the most important factor in those decisions.

Additional consideration would be allowed for special training, certifications or licenses, or for having created school tutoring or enrichment programs. Previous misconduct, criminal conduct or excessive unexcused absences could be held against teachers.

"We are going to dismiss faculty not according to seniority but performance, so that we can keep the best teachers in the classroom" when forced to make cuts, said House Education Committee Chairman Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington, who sponsored the legislation.

Opponents argued the legislation effectively alters how teacher tenure would work in Missouri and could be a first step toward eliminating it. Others expressed concerns that local school officials' decisions would be inhibited by barring them from giving weight to the experience a teacher brings.