Teacher tenure survives another Dieckhaus attack

Another attack on Missouri teachers was thwarted Wednesday when the House did not offer a motion to accept a committee substitute draft which would have eliminated tenure for teachers and put them on one, two, or three-year contracts.

The substitute draft was submitted by Education Committee Chairman Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington, a former classroom teacher, who has gone out of his way this session to support any bill that attacks public education.

Without the committee substitute, SB 81, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, was approved by the House.

According to the bill description on the Senate website, SB 81 does the following:

Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Office of Quality Schools within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may ensure that each Regional Professional Development Center provide professional development educational assistance for fine arts.

The emphasis for fine arts assistance may include the following: act as a resource for school districts, as described in the act; work with school districts in staff development and curriculum issues related to fine arts education; collaborate with the regional office and regional personnel; coordinate services available from other entities involved in fine arts education and fine arts integration; assist and support local school districts in providing fine arts education; and contribute to the development and implementation of in-service training that responds to the needs of arts specialists and other educators for the needs of Missouri students in the fine arts.

With only two weeks left to go in the legislative session, expect more efforts by Dieckhaus and Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, to attach tenure repeal to any education legislation that comes down the pike.