76th (2011) Session
Opinions
View all submitted comments for each bill by the most recent, by votes for, or by votes against.
| AB555 | ||
| - | ||
| Against | the worst concept of employment ever dreamed by the infantile mind of man. | May-19-2011 |
| For | May-18-2011 | |
| Against | May-17-2011 | |
| Against | May-17-2011 | |
| Against | May-16-2011 | |
| Against | Teachers are already among the most highly educated, yet devalued and underpaid professionals nationwide. This bill will likely have the opposite of its intended effect if passed. Teacher morale and ambition will dwindle as students pay the ultimate price. | May-16-2011 |
| Against | This is just setting up to get rid of all the teachers who have much experience and cost the districts more money. Many of these teachers are the best teachers even though money has been spent trying to convince the public that they are the worst. These are the teachers who mentor the new teachers, sit on committees, tutor freely needy students and provide service to the community. If the security is removed from this career, it will become only a job and few will pay for college to make so little and have no security in their chosen profession. Heaven help us if this passes. | May-16-2011 |
| Against | May-16-2011 | |
| Against | Taking pay increases earned through the attainment of advanced degrees from teachers is unfair and wrong. We invested in our education and our financial futures. Taking this on top of accross the board pay cuts is too much. We are going to lose everything. We have kids and a mortgage just like everyone else. | May-04-2011 |
| Against | What are you doing?! Teachers are underpaid and now you're taking away more of our rights? We're doing a $80,000 job for alot less! Our job is alread undervalued. Our children are already undervalued! Stop doing more damage to our education system! | May-02-2011 |
| Against | THERE ARE YEARLY REVIEWS FOR FOR MOST JOBS, BUT THIS BILL IS NOT FAIR TO THE TEACHERS OF NEVADA CHILDREN. WE SHOULD AMEND THIS BILL TO INCLUDE THE GOVERNOR HAVING TO REAPPLY FOR HIS JOB EVERY YEAR WITHOUT A RIGHT FOR REEMPLOYMENT. | May-01-2011 |
| Against | Apr-27-2011 | |
| Against | There also needs to be a provision regarding the abolishment of "social promotion." Parents and students must also be accountable for student achievement. Student achievement must come from both ends: admin./teacher and parent/students before implementing the Current Bill as proposed. | Apr-27-2011 |
| Against | Section 16 of this bill is a slap in the face to all educators who took the time and spent the money to get an advanced degree. According to the US Census, less than 10% of the US population has an advanced degree. These are your best and brightest. Yet this bill wants to punish them and not recognize this achievement. Contracts were made in good faith and should be honored. My advanced degree has made me a better teacher. I apply what I learned in my classroom every day. I obtained more knowledge through the M.ED programs than I ever have from school district inservices. My family has endured cuts and pay freezes through both my and my husbands job already. To take more cuts will definitely have an impact on our financial situation not to mention the community. Gone will be the occassional dinner out, movies, the new car (mine is 11 years old) the new carpet (it IS needed). You can read this: I WILL NOT STIMULATE THE LAS VEGAS ECONOMY. We will make due with what we have. I WILL seek a job out of state (other states still appreciate people with advanced degrees, they are not into Brain Drain) I WILL vote against anyone who punishes teachers for trying to better themselves. Section 12: A one year contract for experienced teachers who have good evaluations. Who in their right mind would want to relocate here or stay here? Please reconsider the wording in this bill. | Apr-26-2011 |
| Against | I am against AB 555 as written. In particular I take exception with section 16 which eliminates current pay scales for teachers who have advanced degrees. My journey to obtain a Masters in Education was not easy. I had a toddler at home, my husband worked graveyard shifts, I worked full time and was pregnant. I attended UNLV to get my M.ED in Early Childhood Education. I learned more than I can express and have used the knowledge and skills obtained through the M.ED program at UNLV to implement changes in my classroom that I believe make me a better teacher. To assume that teachers with advanced degrees are not worth it is a mistake. How can anyone say they value education when they devalue advanced degrees? I worked hard for my M.ED and am proud of it. I got more from the M.ED program at UNLV than I ever got from a school district inservice. So let me get this straight. As long as I need a license to teach in NV and am willing to pay the State Department of Education to have endorsements such as Science, Math, TESL etc. typed on my license, the graduate classes are worth something. BUT if I expect any compensation for taking graduate level courses then they are worth nothing. An advanced degree may not make all teachers great, but it certainly does not hurt. One must also consider experience. By the way, I checked out Microsofts website before writing. I find it interesting that Bill Gates says that advanced degrees don't make better teachers yet the only openings I could find at Microsoft required an MBA. A bit hypocritical don't you think? My other issue with AB555 is that no one seems to realize that with seniority comes experience. I am a better teacher now than I was when I started 20 years ago or even 5 years ago. Many teachers strive to do better and one way is to obtain an advanced degree. My other issue is that no one can seem to tell me exactly how will teachers be evaluated, how will they be compensated and who will make the decision. Educatio | Apr-25-2011 |
| Against | Apr-25-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-23-2011 | |
| Against | This bill would be a political popularity mistake and still does not get at what is wrong with education. You cannot think that doing this will result is better test scores, and higher graduation rates. Those items are also not a good measure of achievement. The problems with education exist more outside the classroom than within in a society filled with disfunctional families who are financially strapped, street violence, drug and alcohol abuse and other tensions. Schools need more disclipline, higher academic standards, and an imporvement in teacher/staff morale by the legislature and the public showing their support to educators. | Apr-23-2011 |
| Against | To Senate Finance Committee: The governor's proposed cuts are unacceptable and unfair. We have worked hard to be most educated so we can provide the best education to our students. We have invested hours and money to advance as individuals for the sake of the students. We've taken time away from our families to become more knowledgeable and experienced and doing away with this would be punishing them. I have worked as a speech-language pathologist for CCSD for the last 13 years. Due to the schedule change from year-round to 9-mos. at my school, I have already endured a $7,000 pay cut. To address this issue my family cut back on expenses, but I also took a second job at a pediatric speech therapy clinic (Rescue My Speech) to supplement the loss. As part of the 2010-2011 contract, educational advancement was honored. Since it was in effect, I decided to take classes to further my education and advance on the salary schedule. My classes were approved by CCSD before I enrolled. I just completed an 18-credit CTE program from Southern Utah University April 2011 plus another continuing education class offered by CCSD. My plan was to move over to classes on the schedule to recoup the pay cut I took last school year. This would allow me to quit my second job and be with my family. Please do not take the educational salary advancement away from us. I spent hours away from my family and spent $3000 plus cost of books to complete it. My school is successful and has never failed to meet AYP. Please do not punish us. Sincerely, Emiy Popowcer M.S. CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist | Apr-23-2011 |
| Against | This bill would negatively effect the recruitment of new teachers in Nevada. A year to year contract would disrupt the camaraderie and work environment in the schools and take away any desire to have a sense of loyalty to a school | Apr-21-2011 |
| Against | Employing teachers on a year to year contract basis would create a great sense of instability not only for educational programs,but also to the climate of the school community. | Apr-21-2011 |
| Against | This bill would swipe all my job security. I have confidence that I am a good teacher that is valued by my principal but this bill would give the power to the school board for reducing teachers and salaries. | Apr-21-2011 |
| Against | This bill does not give teachers time to improve if their is a one year probationary status. This also penalizes people with Masters degress plus advance degrees. Do not pass this bill. | Apr-21-2011 |
| For | Apr-21-2011 | |
| Against | Learning to be a highly effective teacher takes time. Often between 5 and 10 years. While a teacher may be able to show growth in the first or second year. True effectiveness doesn't come without experience. Also, good teachers can be terminated for politcal reasons rather than educational ones. An example could be the poor performing student of a politically connected parent who blames everyone but his/her child for the poor performance. If a teacher stands up to a parent like that without tenure, that teacher will most likely be terminated. Education will not improve, it will get worse. Grade overinflation will increase and administrative grade changes will be made to keep from having to deal with the real issues. Even with protections, schools like Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas already violate state law and do not allow the giving of a failing grade. No one can fail at that school. Even if no work is ever turned in. Investigate that. That's what the whole district could be like without adequate protections. | Apr-20-2011 |
| Against | As a teacher I agree that there needs to be a better way to help struggling teachers and get rid of bad teachers; however, I think that this bill does not allow for proper protections for teachers. This bill would allow teachers to be fired if their students didn't perform well. Teachers salary and job security cannot rest on the performance of apathetic students. I have seen some students purposely fail tests in spite of teachers. | Apr-20-2011 |
| Against | Apr-20-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-20-2011 | |
| Against | In my opinion, this bill was not written to rid our schools of poor teachers (what evidence has been shown that this is a systemic problem in our schools?), this bill was written to fire teachers that have been employed the longest and have the most education. Why? It is cheaper to hire a teacher with no additional education and fewer years of service. Are you serious about improving public education??? The answer is simple...more teaching time. Our educational teaching time should be changed to a 7 1/2 hour day (with no homework given). In addition, our school year should be lengthened to 200 school days per year. In elementary school, students should have music/art/p.e. at least 4 days per week each. In middle and high school, we should develop a vocational track and an academic track… let students and parents decide which is best for them. We need to develop our educational system to fit the needs of our students and our businesses. If your goal is higher test scores, better educated students, fewer students dropping out, better citizens, better work force, more businesses moving to Nevada... the answer is simple. Now, do you have the courage to do what is right for the children of our state, or (as is apparent by poorly written and thought out bills such as this) is your only goal to destroy public education for the sake of "No New Taxes" and your next election? During these times we need leaders and statesmen, NOT more politicians. | Apr-18-2011 |
| Against | The teachers of Clark County made a concession similar to this many years ago. It was a mistake then and it is a mistake now! | Apr-18-2011 |
| For | Apr-18-2011 | |
| Against | This is wrong and very subjective. The evaluation system does not address certain variables that cannot be controlled by the teacher. Advanced degrees that have to do with the position and responsibilities of the teacher should warrant increase in salary. I will be watching Gov. Sandoval, and my representatives very closely! | Apr-18-2011 |
| Against | These are NOT the problems with Nevada performance -- this is "opportunism" in the extreme during times when a serious discussion needs to be had in order to keep current LOW funding for education if not find a way for it to GROW. Stop blaming teachers for performance -- rather we need a tax structure and citizens to look in the mirror. This is the local district's role and NOT the state, as well. On the issue of the studies regarding teacher and master's degrees: are they serious that the alternative is better (teachers NOT pursuing further education??) Just because studies show little correlation does not mean there is NONE or that this is not a key value we should continue as an incentive. | Apr-18-2011 |
| For | Apr-18-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-18-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-17-2011 | |
| Against | This is not the answer to the problems in our educational system. It is an opportunistic dig at the due process that teachers have a right to. | Apr-17-2011 |
| Against | Apr-17-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-17-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-17-2011 | |
| Against | This is an attack on teachers. This is devaluing teachers on a very unfair scale. | Apr-17-2011 |
| Against | Apr-16-2011 | |
| Against | It is important to have highly educated teachers. Do not suspend salary increases for advanced degrees! | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | Apr-16-2011 | |
| Against | Just a few year ago we were paying teachers from other States to come here and now we don't want to make good on contracts. What are we saying to the rest of the country? Teachers in Nevada are already the worst paid, there is noincentive to stay and teach to begin with. Now you want to take away contracts that at least give teachers the security of reemployment. Maybe we should look at reemployment of our politicians on a yearly basis too. If they are no following through on their campaign promises, they should be replaced. Let's not wait until reelection. We really don't need to honor contracts anyway. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | Apr-16-2011 | |
| For | I support job maintenance for teachers based on job performance. I am tired of having excellent teachers bumped out of the school during a surplus simply because they do not have seniority, when less-than-adequate teachers remain on site. Requiring teacher contracts to be renewed annually would prevent teachers from taking advantage of a system that rewards years in service, not performance. However, I would also like to caution legislators who may be determining the factors that will govern acceptable performance. Please establish a criteria that will fairly hold all teachers to a same level of accountability without relying solely on test-scores. We all know that various factors beyond the teacher control influence scores and this is not a true measure of a teacher's hard work, efforts, and diligence. Obviously student performance should be considered but test scores are not the only way to gage progress, nor do they provide a reliable measure of progress for all students. Case in point: I teach in a self-contained autism classroom. I have had a particular student for 3 years, and each year, he has been required to take grade-level interim exams and this year, he took the Nevada Alternate Assessment (NAA). When this student came to me, he was almost entirely non-verbal, would not interact with anybody at any level, maintained complete isolation, and when he did speak, it was almost entirely jargon. He frequently crawled around on the floor acting like a dog. As a third grade student, he will be leaving me walking upright, making eye contact with peers and staff, using complete sentences, refraining from making animal sound outbursts, and able to be independent in many areas. Not only that, but he can read, add, and write simple sentences. He has made tremendous progress. Nevertheless, when this student was a first-grade, non-reading, non-speaking boy, more interested in animal sounds and the floor, I was required to administer interim as | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | K-12 district superintendents are already implementing similar, but more appropriately targeted, plans at the district level where plans like this should be implemented. They are doing so with the support of all interested parties; without starting a war on teachers. This bill is little more than the governor trying to toss a partisan "education reform" bill into his resume of accomplishments. The governor knows nothing about the education system or needed reforms and his advisers have repeatedly admitted that they are barely more educated on the matter. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | I attended today’s hearing on AB 555 in Las Vegas, Nevada. I signed up to speak, but I had to leave to take care of my kids. I would like to suggest that at your next meeting, the proponents and opponents of a bill take turns so that any one side does not have to wait so long to speak. Thank you Chairwoman Smith, Vice Chair Conklin, Assemblyman Aizley, and all the members of the House and Ways Committee for hearing our testimony regarding AB 555. Both my wife and I are teachers for the Clark County School District and we both oppose AB 555. As I sat in on today’s hearing, I could not believe that the Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Chamber of Commerce are spending so much energy trying to pass AB 555. At first glance, it does not make sense for successful business people to want the State of Nevada’s legislature to micromanage school districts when the school districts have the capacity to evaluate their own teachers. There is good reason, though. According to Diane Ravitch, the former United States Assistant Secretary of Education, there is an “effort to subject public education to free-market forces, including competition, decision by data, and consumer choice. All of this sounds very appealing when your goal is to buy a pound of butter or a pair of shoes, but it is not a sensible or wise approach to creating good education. What it produces, predictably, is cheating, teaching to bad tests, institutionalized fraud, dumbing down of tests, and a narrowed curriculum. This formula, which will be a tragedy for our nation and for an entire generation of children, is now immensely popular in the states and the Congress. Most governors embrace it. The big foundations endorse it. The think tanks of D.C., right-wing and left-wing, support it. (Michelle) Rhee helped to make it fashionable. If she doesn’t pause to consider the damage she is doing, shame on her. If our policyholders don’t stop to reflect on the damage they are doing to public education and to any co | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | Please vote against this bill. It will not help the educational problems in Nevada, but it would certainly result in a teacher shortage in Nevada, as no intelligent young people would choose to enter this profession under those rules. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | I never knew just what a teacher does with the kids nowadays till I became a parent and School Bus Driver in the system. When I was a kid, my mother had the luxury to be at home with us when times were good. My father was always gone with the Air Force, so it wasn't easy, especially when my mother became very ill when I was 13, my siblings just 12, 7, and newborn. If it were not for teachers I had at the time, I would have had noone to speak with about getting help for us. THEY DID THINGS THAT COULD NEVER BE MEASURED BY YOUR PROPOSAL HERE IN THIS BILL. I work, my husband works, and together we work for the school district. My kids' teachers were the very ones WORKING with us, husband & I, to make sure there was success for the children. Teachers who were most successful with my children were those that had the seniority and experience to deal with difficult situations. I have seen what happens when someone has no right to challenge anything and is let go at the single word of an individual. It's a story that's NEVER a good one. Mostly, it's about folks who have been wronged simply because someone can trump up something to let them go so they can have a CHEAPER WAGE EARNER on the payroll after folks get time in a position that has given them raises. I've also seen folks getting write-up after write-up just because. Please DO NOT PASS THIS BILL. Even if I were only a parent, I would be against this. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | Apr-16-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-16-2011 | |
| Against | Once again, the educational system and community is being sabotaged. | Apr-16-2011 |
| For | As a graduate student myself, I hope to see better qualified teachers in the classrooms. Teaching from the book, teachers not knowing the subject is a serious issue that hopefully with this bill can be undiscovered and resolved. Professionalism, skill, knowledge must extend not only to the subject matter but also to competence in technology. We live in a different era that require divers skills. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | Apr-16-2011 | |
| Against | Educators and the educational system have been penalized enough! It's time that the casinos, big business and mining industry pay their fair share. Please oppose this bill. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | Apparently the govenor feels that there is no value in the education and years of service a teacher has given to the state. This bill also takes away any job security. This will allow the district to let teachers go before they are able to collect their retirement. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | This bill is to vague and allows for to much personal influence in relation to implementing the guidelines. All this will do is cost districts good teachers. This nill is also contrary to current contracts and union agreements. If school districts want to spend the next 10 yeras fighting all the lawsuits in court, this is the way to do that. Maybe some of these guidelines that are proposed shoud be required for our senate,assembly and govenor. | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | Why do you want to continue to make being an educator a miserable, stressful choice. I love teaching and children. I work hard to meet the needs of my students and to make education meaningful. You are throwing all my efforts into my face repeatedly telling anyone who will listen that I am a failure because education is not perfect. Thank you! That is a positive way to solve a problem. Why do you think that I have no rights? I feel like Nevada's legislators have decided that they have been voted into POWER to make decisions that will make them look good. I regret daily my decision in giving my vote to Governor Sandoval. I thought he was a rational, thinging PROBLEM SOLVER. It appears that he is just a greedy, power hungry, bully! | Apr-16-2011 |
| Against | This bill will personally attack my financial future and that of my two college age sons. Save our state or we will be forced to move from our home state of Nevada.I can no longer believe in a state that would put our future at such severe risk of going from 49th to 50th on the education slate. I invite any and all of you to talk to me personally, observe my classroom, visit my two sons~ one of whom is forced to come back to Las Vegas, because I can no longer afford to send him to UNR. If you do not care about me, then think of your own children and their children. Please do NOT approve this bill. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | This bill is bad for educators and bad for students. It sets back the teaching profession 100 years. | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | I support the education reform package AB 555 aimed at ensuring that we put students first in decisions regarding identifying and supporting effective teachers, holding schools accountable for student performance, providing information to parents regarding education options and school performance, and ensuring that parents have choices available to them. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | Vehemently opposed. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | A recruiting administrator from the Clark County School District flew to Cincinnati, Ohio in June of 2007 to interview prospective teachers. Unaware of what I'd be getting myself into, I interviewed with the woman who ended up being my first principal in the CCSD. I left all friends and family without a dime, eager to begin my career teaching music because jobs in the midwest were few. Because the salary was so little, yet the cost of living was so high, there was not much left to create any real savings. I had no choice but to interview strangers for prospective roommates and rent out my spare bedroom. This is still the case. When I finally got on my feet, I began a graduate degree in School Counseling so that I could support and assist students in achieving academic success and increase my employment options in education. I have also been counting on the advancement of my salary as demonstrated in the salary schedule, but because of the current threat of a reduction in force and my few years of seniority, I may have no choice but to pack my bags along with several thousand dollars of student loan debt and return to living with my parents in Ohio to work in my father's bakery making $9.00/hr. This is not exactly the life I expected to live when I worked HARD making the Dean's List each and every semester in college. Combined with the numerous dollars spent getting fully licensed and highly qualified in the state of Nevada by taking additional Praxis exams and Nevada/US History and Constitution classes, all I have done with my paychecks here is spend them. I consistently work hard to meet and often exceed the expectations of my profession as a music director, receiving successful evaluations from supervisors and comments/ratings from professional music adjudicators confirming my competence as a music teacher. I have worked beyond hard and deserve salary advancement, and so do the many other teachers in this district who have put in the number of hours in graduate | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | This is a way around funding our schools | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | This is disgraceful. I am NOT a teacher or an educator but I care very much about Nevada and its future and the future of its young people. You also are public servants; perhaps all legislators and the governor should serve on one-year only contracts. Don't reduce teachers in Nevada to the status of indentured servants, frightened every minute of losing their positions. It takes many years to become a highly skilled teacher; a one-year only contract reduces teachers to temporary employees. Pay them $500/day as a per diem rate and you may have some justification in this proposal. This is DISGRACEFUL AND HARMFUL TO ALL NEVADANS. DO THE RIGHT THING; VOTE NO. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | This is a very BAD BILL. Teachers, making $35,000-$45,000 a year, on a one-year only contract with no right to reemployment, will not be stimulating the economy because they will not be buying ANYTHING; their homes will foreclose and maybe they will become eligble for food stamps and aid to dependent children. By doing this, teachers will be ineligible for unemployment benefits. THIS IS CRIMINAL. By doing this, teachers could become temporary employees, without benefits from the school district, including health insurance. This is not right for Nevadans; do you think it is? Is this discrimantory against women, since they hold most of the teaching positions? Looks like it to me; discrimination is something that will be investigated further. SHAMEFUL BILL!! | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | Why would anyone want to be an educator? | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | The bill is a big step forward to reforming a crippled system that needs to be changed dramatically now. Our children are not getting the best they deserve from our education system and we need to stop the student leak and give them a good education to better serve our society. | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | We need this bill to revise the current education system that is broken. We need to be able to keep the great teachers and weed out the bad ones without years of wasted time. The teachers need to join the real world and be treated like they are working for business that is concerned about the bottom line and good quality products. | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | YES, YES, and YES!! | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | At the beginning of the last century, a woman couldn't be a school teacher unless she was single. Now, a woman CAN'T be a school teacher if she is single. How can any single, unmarried person live on the income that this bill would propose? Additionally, how can any teacher keep up his or her education in order to improve teaching methods and enhance teaching with knowledge of cognitive functioning and learning styles? This bill is a sin | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Please understand that teachers are doing the job they do because they truly enjoy educated students. However, teachers have families, mortgage payments, car payments, student loan payments, etc. How can teachers be looked at as professionals that are respected when they do not know if they will be employed from year to year? Teacher pay in Nevada is not competitve as it is. The cost of living is increasing, but not the salaries of teachers that have more education than most professionals making six figures. It just does not make sense! | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | The problem with getting rid of ineffective teachers is that no one wants the job. Making the job even worse is not going to attract better teachers. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE RIGHT TO REEMPLOYMENT. Good teachers deserve reemployment, bad teachers don't. Don't punish all teachers by categorizing them as 'at will' employees. Who'd want to work at a CCSD teacher as an 'at will' employee? This legislation is absurd. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | This will discourage good teachers from coming and staying in Nevada schools. This is an attack on worker rights and education in Nevada. If teacher salaries and reduced we WILL lose many good teachers especailly in math and science because many of these teachers can find work in the private sector. As soon as the economy improves watch the mass exodus of math and science teachers if you pass this bill or reduce teacher's income. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | Does a 1-year only contract with no right to reemployment make teachers temporary employees? Thus, are they not eligible for unemployment compensation; are medical and other job-related benefits denied also? This is a terrible thing for the State of Nevada to do to teachers, students and families under the guise of balancing a budget. There is no way that a teacher who makes $35,000 or $45,000 dollars a year is able to plan and save for a potential layoff every year, regardless of the state of the economy. If teachers earned $100,000 perhaps this would make a little more sense. Do you expect teachers and their children in Nevada to sleep in their cars? Please, please don't pass this Bill. Maybe during the next session, we could consider a one-year only contract for ALL public employees, local, state and federal. Perhaps we wouldn't see state legislators heading to the House of Representatives and then to the Senate to receive lifetime benefits paid by teachers and other taxpayers. Just a thought. Teacher's pay taxes too; but lose 2/3rds of their social security benefit in Nevada. It's time to respect education and educators. I do. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | I have worked very hard, spent years achieving and showing my worth and gotten great evaluations. After a few years, it is obvious who will be a good employee and who will not. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | As a Clark County School District educator, and more importantly a mother, I vehemently oppose AB 555. It will systematically destroy public education. It is a mean-spirited bill against one sector of the population. As a social studies teacher it is disgusting to me that you are not familiar with the American Labor Movement and the Gilded Ages post Civil War. The labor unions fought over 100 years ago for the very things you want to deny public educators today. Labor Unions are not the cause of this economic crisis. This is blatant ideology warfare on public employees by the greedy "thin layer of gold" on top. The governor should be ashamed of himself for proposing this bill as well as any who support such hate-filled material. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| Against | Rewarding on merit or ability is one thing but not rewarding for years of service(if they are performing) and not rewarding for using their own time and money to further their education, knowledge and skills to be able to enhance their trade is ridiculous. We pay doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, etc for their education at absurd rates....why not the most important job there is...the teachers of our future leaders....your children. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | As an educator of 22 years, 20 in Nevada, I understand the need to hold people accountable in the work place. However, I see this as a way to get rid of those teachers most valuable because they earn too much money. This would be me. After 18 years I chose to get my master's and National Board Certification. This took 1 1/2 years to accomplish while working the 60-70 hours a week it requires to do what needs to be done for my students and $10,000 of my own money. The National Board Certification indicates I use best practices in my profession, not just in the classroom but in communication with parents and collaborating with my colleagues. I reflect on what I do and use it to improve myself. Not all educators have gone to this length but we all are continuing to improve our practices, if not we would not be recertified. I am on my Spring break and I will spend my time correcting the 157 science journals I brought home and will be planning my next unit. This entails 30 hours of work on my "time off". I am willing to do this because this is what it takes to help my students get the feedback they need and the engaging curriculum they deserve. My colleagues are doing the same. So now it would be at the bugetary descretion of the district as to whether or not I keep my job next year. Let's face reality. Two teachers can be hired in my place. What ensures that a highly qualified and effective teacher such as myself is retained? Nothing according to AB555. Why would I want to continuously improve myself and continue to work endless hours if my job next year is based on whether or not there is enough money to retain me versus my performance? I know this is not the intent of the Bill, this is the reality of how it is played out. What assurances are there in this bill that the districts' have to retain qualified teachers? Let's not drive away the best people in the profession. We only retain 50% of new teachers beyoond the first 3 years of serv | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | I am in support for Nevada AB555, this bill is a necessary step to move forward! | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | I am absolutly in support of this bill. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | Apr-15-2011 | |
| For | I am in support of Nevada Education reform. This bill is a necessary step in order to move forward. | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | I am in full support of this bill. We must change our current Nevada Education System and this is one of the first steps needed as we move forward with the change. | Apr-15-2011 |
| For | Apr-15-2011 | |
| For | We need to keep the best professors, not the ones who've been hanging out the longest! | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | This is an unacceptable way to treat hard-working people who give of their personal time and money to educate children. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | What an insult to our educational personnel. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | This bill takes away job security. Everyone wants to have a little job security and if this bill passes they will be a hire transistion rate among teachers leaving out the district wherever they teach in Nevada. | Apr-15-2011 |
| Against | The sweeping one-sided changes proposed in this bill serve only to make it harder for Nevada to attract and retain quality teachers. Devising the means to terminate bad teachers is one thing; making all educators probationary employees is going too far. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | Besides being unethical, the legal fight would cost the State millions of dollars. It would also result in massive exodus of teachers from the State. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Passage of this bill will destroy the educational system. Ask yourself ... why would a college student want to be a teacher when they can work in the private sector making at least twice as much as they do as a teacher. One of the only things that the teaching profession had going for it was a sense of security and decent benefits. The state is reducing the educational system to an unfortunately laughable excuse for learning. 40+ kids in a classroom, slashed budgets, slashed benefits. Where is the buy in for the guys in the trenches? | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | This is a direct attack on teacher's rights in public schools that teachers have fought for. The purpose of this bill is to fund public schools less and less, and to pay teachers less for ultimately doing more (by having larger classes and therefore a larger work load). This bill will cause good teachers to leave public schools and seek employment elsewhere. As a teacher, I can say that I do this job because I like what I do. I obviously do not do this job for the pay... or lack thereof. I am a teacher because I want to teach children and make a difference. Am I to suffer because the Governor doesn't respect what I do or value public education? It is common knowledge that teachers are underpaid and cutting teachers' rights and ultimately pay will cause teachers to loose their livelihood. Please vote against this bill and save education and the rights of teachers. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | So who is on this Commission on Professional Standards in Education? How many years have they taught, and how many years since they have been in classroom if ever? What are the "certain factors" that they are going to use? So this bill is a plan is to get rid of the teachers who have devoted much of their life to teaching so they can keep the young teachers and pay them much less money. I'd like to try this with politicians! | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | I have worked for my seniority and due process. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Poorly performing teachers can presently be released from their positions following due process. Making all positions a 1-year only contract will discourage bright, competent individuals from seeking a teaching career. This state cannot afford to make teaching less desirable if we want to increase the quality of education. If the goal of the bill is to increase teacher competency, then the teaching positions must be made more (not less) attractive to high level college graduates. The elimination of collective bargaining will have similar end results as the above. Teaching will become even less desirable for intelligent, competitive professionals. Our children and the state economy will continue to suffer in the long run. This bill demonstrates short-sightedness and misdirection of priorities. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | I am a third grade teacher in the Clark County School District and I have been working here for 4 years. If this bill passes, I will leave this school district. If the education of the teachers is not valued, then the quality of the education that is being given to our students will decline rapidly. By taking away the salary advancement of teachers, the government is saying that they do not value education. As a teacher I am continually trying to learn new techniques and practices to make myself more effective for my students and thus I have paid thousands of dollars out of my own pocket to take graduate classes. In no other profession are people expected to advance their education on a regualr basis and not get compensated for the costs. By passing this bill we are sending a message to the people of this state, including the students in the schools, that education is not important. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| For | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | This is detrimental to our education system and to the future of our children. It will scare away good teachers and discourage new teachers from coming to Nevada. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | This bill would work in an educational system that was not based on favoritism, nepotism, etc. But education in Nevada does not work that way. I have been a high school math teacher for 18 years, and I work with a much younger math teacher who happens to be the principal's daughter. If it came down to my school losing a math teacher, and seniority was not an issue, who do you think would lose their job? Me, because I am NOT the principal's daughter. You give people too much credit; the firing or retention of teachers would not be based on anything but popularity and favoritism. Are there bad teachers out there? Sure. But giving up the protection of many just to get rid of the few is ridiculous. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | This is detrimental to a cohesive education system. It penalizes teachers for somethings that they have no control over such as the demographics of the student population within a school or school district. It will also be detrimental to the learning environment for both the students and the teachers. It will also severally cripple the recruitment of new teachers into the districts here in Nevada. We are already behind most states. This bill will only move us further down on the list. It will also remove any hope that our students can compete on a national or international job market. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | This is ridiculous! The governor is now taking his educational advice from Bill Gates? Really? Computer programming advice, sure, go ahead. Educational advice, hardly. Teachers work hard, earn higher degrees (which they pay for out of their own pockets, unlike employees at other companies whose employers actually PAY for their employees to become better educated)in order to better serve their students. I understand there has been alot of news lately about tenure and it's downfalls. I agree, there are some teachers in this world who should not be in classrooms, and because of laws, aren't being dismissed. That is a problem. However, taking away job security from highly qualified teachers who are dedicated and doing what is necessary is frightening. Punishing the whole because of a few is wrong. Taking away a salary scale and compensation for higher education puts us back in the days of the industrial revolution. Teachers are essentially going to be considered factory workers with no rights. Why on earth would anyone go into this profession if that's the way the education system works in this state? Is that how little education and its professionals are valued? We're already lowest in the nation. How are you going to attract people to this state with this type of education system? You can't even get companies like IKEA to come here because there is no quality higher education system for their employees' families to choose from. Stop the lip service of simply saying how important teachers are and actually show them. Defend their rights. I will say, the one part of this Bill I do agree with, is allowing administrators to use employees evaluations to determine which teachers should be surplused or RIF'd. At our school, we're losing four teachers. Two of which are wonderful and we don't want to see go. While there are two others that we'd love to see go because we don't feel they are effective. Unfortunately, they get to stay because they have more s | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | Invested teachers need the security of knowing that they will continue to have a job. With the increase of living teacher will not be able to make it on a teacher's salary if there in no way to earn higher salaries. If you are taking teacher's pay and senority away then they will not be able to work to theeir fulliest potential because they will be worrying about the year to come. Teachers plan every year on how the next year will be better and went well and how to improve it for next year. If teachers are worried about having a job the follow year then they will not be planning for the years to come which will affect the students. Students should be our topic priority. Invested teachers want and try to help our students and that is the number one thng we should think about. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Teachers are on the front lines everyday educating students. This bill does not support teachers. Teachers and schools are the bedrock of every community. It is time to support teachers, stop vilifying teachers to serve political interests. Due process is protection for teachers and districts. Due process prevents firing of good teachers who are advocates for children and stand up for what they believe in. Together we must work to provide the best education possible. JUST SAY NO! TO AB555 | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Senority shows how much experience a person has. The more experience a person has the more knowledge they canuse to do their job better. Nevada schools already are ranked at the bottom and by taking position away from highly qualified and invested teachers will hurt Nevada school even more. | Apr-14-2011 |
| Against | Apr-14-2011 | |
| Against | Our teachers are the foundation for our students learning.When you take away the incentive for the teachers everyone gets the short end of the stick. Teachers went on to higher education for a career not a job. I am against this bill because it is a insult to the institution of higher education and teachers who have gone on to spend more money on there education than what the government is willing to pay. I feel sorry for our state and country. If this is where education is heading this country will not be able to find teachers who will stay and future generations will not want to go to college to become under appreciated low payed teachers. Thats the message you are sending to your state and country. Your government doesn't care about you or your children's education. Teachers should get paid what they deserve. I'm a mom of three and still believe in public education. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Nothing in this bill will help Nevada attract and keep highly qualified teachers. If you want the best, you need to give the best. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Do not take due process rights away from teachers. Do not take away salary increases through years of service and education. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | While I agree something needs to be changed with the system of being able to remove poor teachers, I think this bill takes away the feeling of "job security" for being a hard working teacher. You are always looking over your shoulder. I have over 25 years experience in Special Ed. and continue to work hard to this day, but does that mean I have to be concerned because I am too high on the salary scale or my students didn't pass the proficiency exam. Maybe I am reading this bill wrong but there is a lot of fuzziness. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | This bill does not advocate for educators to earn higher degrees and it does not advocate for students to strive to work for higher degrees for their future employment as teachers. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Educational pay increases are the hall mark of teacher's staying up to date on new teaching practices and theories. The state mandates that we must take classes to keep our job.I have spent thousands of dollars on ed. now no payback? | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Neither this nor cutting education is the answer to anything. The only ones who will suffer are our children. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | What other profession does not pay its employees that better themselves with a masters or doctoral degree? YOU WILL LOSE QUALITY TEACHERS IF THIS BILL PASSES. You will lose any sort of merit this state has (if it has any) and there will be no one who wants to come here to be a teacher. Those of us, who are here, will leave. I can guarantee you if this law passes, I along with 90% of the educators I know will consider employment in other states where education is still considered valuable. I have never been so insulted in my entire professional career and have never felt less proud of my master’s degree then I have at this moment. The money, sweat, tears that went into that degree made me a better teacher. The problem is, I won’t be given what is rightfully mine and the loans it took for me to pay for my education will not go away. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | It might mess up the education system | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | I am a teacher who is finishing up my masters degree. My degree costs $32,000.00 and the raises that teachers get help to pay for our professional development. How do you expect to get better teachers if you are not going to help support them to better their education. DO NOT LET THIS BILL PASS IF YOU WANT GOOD TEACHERS! | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | This bill will dissolve everything I worked for in the last 10 years. All my evaluations have been exemplary and I am proud of my accomplishments. Please protect the already fragile education system. If this law passes, nobody will want to become a teacher. We are not paid very much and you are getting rid of all the incentives to remain in the teaching profession. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Once again, our Governor and the Republicans want to act like dictators and strip away due process and other rights we have won through legal means just because he won an election. He is trying to steamroll his way to getting his way. His proposal will destroy public education in this state and all others. Make no mistake about this. This appears to be a coordinayed attack by the Republicans as Wisconsin, Florida, and now Nevada is pursuing the same course. Teachers will leave their profession and low to mid income families will not get any education because the voucher system which conservatives are clamoring for will not help. Yes, it will be more money for the wealthy people who don't need the money. Also, the Governor's wishes will violate our Constitution guaranteeing citizens the right to a free public education. It also will destroy any and all incentive for furthrr education and with no pay raises for either additional years of service or more education does anyone really want to swallow the absurd idea that "any" future teachers will become a teacher with no increase in sight to their pay. This is lunacy. Our Governor and the Republicans have made it clear that they simply could care less about our children, youth, and higher institutions of learning. To me, this is anti American. Now that they have made their true position known, it will be much easier for Democrats to win at the polls and I believe the Republican Party will soon be in our distant past. They have unleashed a state of war and so, I ask the Legislature to adequately and appropriately respond. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | This sets professional growth back centuries. Teachers are required to keep up with all of the latest pedigogy and advances in technology. We always pay out of our pocket, attend classes during the evening, summers, and weekends. Our dedication to our students has no boundaries. Why are educators being put in such a horrible position. Shouldn't experience, hard work, and dedication count for something? Is there anyone who learned their craft who could have done it without dedicated and knowledgable teachers? | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Teachers cannot be concentrating on teaching students and on students’ best interest if they are wondering if they will have a job the following year. Also, teachers are expected to increase their education and renew their teaching certificates with education on their own dime, but now teachers are not getting any compensation for that? Since when has the future of our state and country, which is what our teachers are teaching, become so disposable? | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | We teachers are already required to be "highly qualified" with a masters degree and are already not paid to that level when compared to other professions with master degrees. Why should we further educate ourselves on our dime and our time,as required to be able to renew a teaching license,if we would not be fairly compensated? | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Why are teachers and other licensed personnel within the education system being singled out in the area of salary step increases and "seniority" within an organization? Every American is entitled to job security, and providing that one does his/her job well (based on evaluations, etc), there is nothing wrong with seniority. Will police officers, fire fighters, probation officers, and support staff within other areas of the government also lose their job security and be offered 1 year contracts? The step increases (increase in salary as a result of years of service) earned by teachers, when the economy is good, is no different than any other public employee who receives step increases to his/her salary. Teachers consistently put in hours beyond contracted time, without compensation. Further, compared to the national average, Nevada teacher's are already among the lowest paid. What incentive are you giving the next generation of teachers? Will you be able to recruit new teachers when the time comes? Education should be a priority in this state and teachers should be more protected. After all, they play a significant role in helping shape and mold tomorrow's leaders. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Teachers and administrators already have an evaluation process to eliminate weak teachers; there is no need to redo that. Removing the right to reemployment is demoralizing and will destroy the Nevada teaching profession. Eliminating the experienced teachers from the profession will negatively impact education in Nevada--the profession will lose the mentors, the leaders, and the teachers who have developed their skills over time. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO FURTHER CRIPPLE OUR EDUCATIUONAL SYSTEM. THISS IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME, AS A NEVADA RESIDENT FOR 31 YEARS. IT IS RIDICULOUS WHAT HE IS ATTEMPTING TO DO. THE RESIDENTS OF NEVADA CANNOT TAKE ANYMORE1 THIS BETTER NOT GO THROUGH. LEGISLATORS WHO VOTE FOR THIS SHOULD BE RUN OUT OF TOWN. yHESE PEOPLE HAVEN'T GOT THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN AT HEART. THIS IS THE MOST APPALLING THING I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG WHILE. I HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T COME TO FRUITION i WILL LEAVE THE STATE. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Experience and continuing education are key to becoming a master teacher. I simply cannot fathom that any person seriously questions this fact. Just as in the medical profession, there are new techniques developed with enable us to become increasingly skilled at our craft. I am certain that none of us would seek a medical professional who believes that he/she is adaquately trained with only a bachelor's degree, no experience, and no updated training. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | The passage of this bill would be a betrayal of such magnitude, it would cause me to seriously consider leaving the state and school district I have loved for 17 years. | Apr-13-2011 |
| For | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | There is no way to grade teachers in every subject from school to school. You can not grade a teacher that works at Chappereal and Coronado the same way. It would never be fair for the rich vs. poor areas. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | This is just ridiculous! What other professions do employees only sign one year contracts? | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | You are ridiculous! The only way teachers can increase their salaries is continue their education. If they receive Master's and Doctorate's they will be better teachers. How stupid can you be? Oh, wait you want to tie teacher's pay to student performance? That's another moronic idea. Teacher's cannot control the home lives of their students. You want to base their pay on something that is completely beyond their control. You might as well add to the bill that teachers will get paid based on the weather. Education starts in the home. We aren't all granted the opportunity to be born into the upper classes where parents have the time and ability to work with their kids, support their education or pay for tutors. Many kids have to go home and take care of the rest of the family, but you want to base a teachers pay off that? It's garbage and anyone supporting this bill should be ashamed of themselves. (if you can read this, thank a teacher!) | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Very biased against SpEd teachers. Slow and minimal progress will be difficult to measure as will students with behavioral goals. The East Coast used a system like this and the good teachers left while the bad teachers were all that remained to fill the job. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Such a law will not attract the best teachers into the profession - it will cause the best teachers to shy away from teaching. There are already ways for administrators to get rid of "bad" teachers. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | If we want to attract good educators to this state we need to give them rights. It is crazy to think that we will be able to produce educated citizens if we do not attract the best educators. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Only against the right to refuse educators' salary step. I agree with the other parts. | Apr-13-2011 |
| For | I support a change in the current "probation" period for teachers. I am concerned, however, as to who is allowed to evaluate teachers. Sometimes an area specialist administrator or senior teacher (ELL, Music, Art, etc) is better suited to evaluate a teacher than a general school administrator who may not have any idea what it takes to be a teacher in that subject area. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | I am not in favor of eliminating due process or the salary schedule.However, I would agree there should be some changes with respect to seniority and removing unprofessional and incompetent teachers. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | What is the incentive for highly qualified educators to come to Nevada? Do you not think that our children can benefit from highly qualified teachers? Are they not worth it to you? | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | Teacher's are evaluated just as many professionals are. A highly qualified supervisor is appointed to each teacher, they observe the teacher, participate in class activities, work with him/her professionally, and then judge his/her performance. This supervisor works with the teacher to improve in any category that is necessary. It is absolutely ridiculous disregard this evaluation and make teachers reapply each year. If a teacher is not doing his/her job, then it is reflected in his/her evaluation. If they continue to do poorly, then you can consider cutting them. But you seriously want to have teachers repeat this process every year?! I am beyond offended that my education is not valued or potentially will not be valued for wage advancement. I PAY for further education so that I can be a better teacher. By the end of summer, I will have a Master's degree in education. I know very few people outside the education field who hold a master's degree, let alone a bachelor's degree. I highly recommend that you reconsider this bill. It is absurd, undermining, and demeaning. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | We have not gotten raises for almost 4 years now due to budget cuts. Salary advancement is not even going to be possible with Master's Degrees. This bill would also elminate seniority status' when going through the RIF process. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Eliminating funding is bad enough, but taking away basic teacher rights will do nothing to attract or retain good teachers. This bill will continue driving Nevada to the bottom of the nation in education. I will vote against any legislator who supports this bill. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | So. Nevada is just like Wisconsin. Union Busting has arrived. Since when did teachers become the enemy? This is absolutely wrong! I just went 24,000 dollars in to debt to get my Masters in Library Science because those are the rules and now you want to change that? Believe me, if I had know the degree in my chosen profession wasn't going to be honored, I wouldn't have spent the money. That was money I could have used to repair my house and car. I have twenty years of experience. If this bill passes, administrators will let veteran teachers go because they can be replaced with a new ones who costs less. I WILL happen, and you WILL lose a wealth of knowlege and experience when the veterans are gone. How are specialist teachers going to be paid under this system? Our curriculum doesn't get tested. How do WE prove that WE deserve more pay under this system??? We teach valuable, vital skills to students! Information literacy and information seeking skills are critical to academic success! Or is it OK, now that my school will no longer have a middle and high school librarian (me), that those kids HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO USE THE SCHOOL LIBRARY so that someone with a key can unlock it for them? | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Apr-13-2011 | |
| Against | I am a second grade teacher with the Clark County School District and have been teaching for 7 years. What kind of incentive is this bill for me to continue teaching in Nevada? I have attained my masters degree, have four different endorsements in education, and experience in the classroom. If you look at research done on student achievement, and ignore all the outside factors that effect students, teacher attainment of education and experience are the greatest factors for success. This bill negates all the hard work that teachers do above and beyond the classroom. Reflect on your years of experience or you education levels. Does that impact how well you do your jobs? Our salaries should be tied in part to our education, we should be rewarded for our dedication to a field that is constantly changing. There is limited funding for education, there are limited materials, there are limits put on us from every direction. How do you expect children to be successful when you take away but expect more? You cannot squeeze water from a rock and you cannot squeeze education from ill-equipped schools. I hope that you fight for what you know to be true. Children are the future. Do you want future generations to be able to take a test and bubble the correct answer, or do you want a future generation that is equipped to deal with and make the world a better place? Allow teachers to shine, untie our hands, let us do what we are trained and educated to do, and we can show you a better future. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Teachers are some of the most educated people in our country, yet they are not recognized as professionals. It is one of few professions where new learning has to constantly take place in order to continue in the profession, yet this bill is going to discount all of that hard work and effort that a teacher puts forth to shape future generations. To not recognize those efforts with things like education increments as a total insult to teacher's efforts. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | I am sickened by this bill. Teachers should be paid based on their time in the district along with other aspects of their evaluations. I teach students with IEPs and low IQs. How would I be evaluated. When my students show any growth that is a huge accomplishment. I can not believe this bill has even been brought up. It's a travesty both professionally and peronally. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | To retain quality teachers you need to give them job security. Let them know you want to keep them and the state is dedicated to long term education by having the right to reemployment. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Doesn't allow for any job security and effects many livelyhoods. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Please talk with us principals about what you're doing to our public education. I am a registered Republican but am changing my party because of these ineffective and out-of-touch decisions. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | I have been a Nevada educator for over 20 years. During that time, I have striven to further my education in order to be better at my craft; however, I never wanted it to be a financial burden on my own family. If the promise of a salary increase had been removed, I am not sure I would have been able to complete the courses that made me a better teacher. As the mother of children currently enrolled in CCSD, I am fearful that the only teachers they will have in future years are newly hired ones with little experience and even less education. | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Parents and idiot administrators with misguided agendas can ruin teachers at the drop of a hat now. Without tenure, what intelligent person would go into a profession where they are whipping posts everyday? Just think, keep messing with the education system and many of you will have to home school your little darlings. I sort of like this trend. You folks will have to walk a mile in my moccasins!! Just try to teach your spoiled little sweethearts a well rounded education. I am guessing very few of you are well rounded in anything except maybe BS. For the record, I am a high school mathematics teacher. There are very few of us out there compared to most disciplines. If I were to home school my grandchildren, I am pretty sure they would know more math that your kids. I would encourage them to run businesses, employ your children, write your child's pay checks and cheat your children because they will be be dumb to know the difference!! Education is expensive but you folks and generations to come are about to find out how expensive stupidity is!! | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | Wipes out employee rights with one sweep | Apr-13-2011 |
| Against | It is time to stop solely blaming teachers for the failing education in this country. Teachers deserve our respect and help. Their job is a thankless one. Why take away the few perks and protections they get? There are ways to get rid of "bad" teachers, administration chooses not to do the work. | Apr-12-2011 |
| Against | I cannot understand why every current right of excellent teachers has to be stripped away just to be able to get rid of bad teachers. There is a different motive here. Is it to mistakenly prove that public education is inadequate? This bill promotes raising student achievement, but there is nothing in here that supports raising student achievement. The only thing that it includes is stripping teachers of their security, reducing wages and lowering morale. | Apr-12-2011 |
| Against | Apr-12-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-12-2011 | |
| Against | I am opposed to any bill that does not give compensation for extra education earned to perform a job well. If the state wants effective teachers, it should pay a salary increase for individual who earn higher degrees. | Apr-12-2011 |
| Against | Apr-12-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-12-2011 | |
| Against | Until educators have the same right to pick and choose students as a business manager has to choose his underling employees, I feel the bill places undue responsibility without the corresponding authority on the shoulders of teachers. | Apr-12-2011 |
| Against | Reform is necessary, but the parameters in this bill are too vague.If passed, Nevada will not be able to attract qualified, experienced educators on top of not being able to lure businesses with our supposed excellent business climate! | Apr-12-2011 |
| Against | Apr-12-2011 | |
| Against | Clark County School District will not be able to attract qualified teachers if those teachers are prohibited from receiving pay incentives for their level of education. I teach college level English classes in a high school, and my husband teaches college level chemistry in a high school. We both have master's degrees in our subject areas. Most teachers do not have the depth of knowledge we have and would not be able to teach advanced courses, and most individuals with advanced degrees would not consider a career in education if they were not honored for their extra experience. I personally do not feel like an advanced degree in education improves one's teaching, and I wish colleges would do away with degree programs such as "Secondary English Education," but why shouldn't the chemistry teacher with a MS in chemistry and an English teacher with an MA in English and an MFA be compensated for the extra educational costs they incurred and the extra experience they bring? | Apr-12-2011 |
| Against | The provisions of this bill are short sighted. It makes sense that our legislators would like to prevent seniority alone from impacting teacher retention decisions. Yet, without first providing specific details on an alternative to the existing method of making teacher retention decisions we can not scrap what we currently have in place. This bill should not be approved. First come up specifics for a reasonable alternative and then modification of our existing procedures can be considered. | Apr-12-2011 |
| Against | Apr-12-2011 | |
| Against | Taking away postprobationary status for teachers will ultimately hurt the entire education system and therefore our state. It will essentially make teachers "at will" employees and not allow them to master their craft but see them replaced for cheaper employees who do not share the same level of knowledge or experience. Ineffective teachers can be replaced now all it takes is a diligent administrator. Experience and dedication is a good thing and shouldn't be punished. This is a bad bill and shold not make it out of committee. | Apr-11-2011 |
| For | Apr-11-2011 | |
| Against | Apr-11-2011 | |
| Against | This act hinder teacher recruitement and discourage individuals from becoming a teacher. This would also discourage existing teachers from seeking continuing education. At present - teachers are required to pay for their professional testing, their background checks and fingerprinting, college and training education, and licensing fees. This is to expensive if their is no due process or guarantee of employment. Many teachers would also leave Nevada. | Apr-11-2011 |
| Against | Once again Governor Sandoval is blatantly attacking educators in this state. He is using the budget problems to further his political agenda. The problem is not the teachers, the problem is the administrators who don't follow the evaluation guidelines. You can remove bad teachers, but the administrators don't want to do the work it takes to get this done. | Apr-11-2011 |
| Against | Apr-11-2011 | |
| Against | Who will teach remedial and average level classes if half their evaluation is based on test scores? Would you bet your mortagage payment on the effort of a group of fifteen-year-olds? This whole deal is a political sham - what happens when all the teachers from the poor school fail their evaluations due to low test scores? Are you going to fire 1/3 of the teachers? Furthermore, what tests will be used? Who pays to develop the tests? Pass this or not, it isn't going to work. Only a moron would think that the way to get better teachers in the classroom is to make it tougher to be a teacher while simultaneously decreasing pay and benefits. | Apr-11-2011 |
| For | No Comment | Apr-04-2011 |
| For | No Comment | Apr-03-2011 |
| Against | No Comment | Apr-03-2011 |
| Against | No Comment | Mar-30-2011 |
| For | No Comment | Mar-30-2011 |
| Against | Leave the Union provisions alone. It's not the union who approved any contracts and I don't see y'all railing against any of these folks. Particularly in the schools where the teachers are at the bottom of the totem pole. The unions are NOT responsible for problems in the schools. Those who meddle from the top down are the problem. | Mar-29-2011 |
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