LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- A shake up is coming for three Jefferson County High Schools – Iroquois, Waggener and Southern High Schools are the latest round of schools to make it on the state's low performing list. After the school board's decision Sunday night every teacher at those schools will have to reapply for their job.
"It's the decision all the teachers at Waggener, that I know, were hoping for,” said Waggener High School ESL teacher Eric Hanks.
The vote came down to five to two as the Jefferson County School Board voted to re-staff Iroquois, Waggener and Southern High Schools. It was between that or linking teacher pay and evaluations to student performance.
Several Waggener teachers spoke to the board saying paying for performance would create an atmosphere of competition where teachers focus on money and not students. They also say there are a lot of obstacles to overcome.
"I can't keep them from cutting class, I can't keep them from being angry when mom and dad split up, or when they lose their brother to a drive-by shooting,” said Martha Brennan, a Waggener English teacher
"The moving of our student body in busses is not going to make schools better. [We] need to move teachers around and put them where they're needed most. We need to save the expense and put it to better use,” said Deborah Thomas, a Waggener teacher.
Superintendent Sheldon Berman recommended the re-staffing model saying it would present a dramatic change in student performance in a shorter amount of time. Eric Hanks agreed saying for him students are more important than money. "All of my relatives were teachers. They tried to talk me out of it, but I want to make a difference,” said Hanks.
The state has already recommended the principals be removed and they will be. The number of teachers affected by this re-staffing model remains to be seen. Everyone has to reapply for their job.
