Local school officials oppose Prop. 74 Local school officials oppose Prop. 74 (October 28, 2005)

By Molly Tanenbaum

Superintendent Maurice Ghysels and the Mountain View-Whisman School District take a dim view of Proposition 74 -- which would increase the probationary period from two to five years before a teacher can be considered for tenure -- with the board last week approving a resolution to oppose the measure.

Ghysels sees this proposition, which is on the Nov. 8 ballot, as a potential deterrent for those contemplating a career in education.

"Teachers who are looking at getting into teaching will perceive it as one less benefit and will be more likely to choose an alternate career path," Ghysels said.

The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District board approved a similar resolution opposing the proposition at its Monday meeting.

Not only will the proposition dissuade future teachers from choosing education as their career, but it will also turn teaching into "just a job" because the administration could let a teacher go after five years of work without giving a reason why, said Sally Topete, president of the Mountain View Teachers Association, in a phone interview.

Furthermore, Topete said, being let go without cause would make finding a new teaching job in a different district difficult, because the old district would not be able to release information on why the teacher was not re-elected.

"Nobody will be a teacher anymore," Topete said. "They'll say, 'Forget it, I don't want to take a chance of being a teacher as a career and being disposed of in five years.'"

Topete also worries that a five-year probationary period, which would increase the pool of teachers without tenure, would severely limit job security, especially when a school district enters a budget crisis and must let teachers go.

At the MV-Whisman board meeting, school board trustees such as Rosemary Roquero echoed Ghysels' sentiments in opposing Prop. 74. Roquero said she does not want to see the quality of teachers decrease as a result of the measure.

"We need more people of excellence in the profession, and the profession is already underpaid."

Trustee Gloria Higgins said she would support legislation to extend the probationary period by one year, but not three.

"Five years is way too long," Higgins said.

A rigorous examination period is already in place to ensure that the school evaluates and retains high-quality educators, said trustee Ellen Wheeler.

"That, done in a respectful, purposeful way, is what protects our students and keeps good teachers in the profession," she said.

E-mail Molly Tanenbaum at mtanenbaum@mv-voice.com

E-mail a friend a link to this story.