JCPS Report Cites Labor, SBDM Problems

This from Toni at C-J:

JCPS study cites problems with councils, teachers

Jefferson County Public Schools has too many inexperienced teachers at its schools with higher numbers of low-income students and too many ineffective school councils, according to a study commissioned by the district.

The findings from the $250,000 study also said the district's labor contract with teachers could be hindering classroom instruction by preventing principals from moving educators where they are needed most. Prepared by the Denver-based Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, the report, called the Greater Louisville Education Project, evaluated five areas — funding, safety, college and career readiness, instruction and advancing competiveness.

It was paid for by several local foundations through the Jefferson County Education Foundation and formally presented to the school board during a work session last night."We wanted to find a way to benchmark our progress and look at ways to reform the district,"

Superintendent Sheldon Berman said of the report. "I think that what they
found reaffirms the goals and strategies we have put together, but it also raises some serious concerns, particularly about the SBDM (site-based decision-making) councils and the labor contracts."