LANSING – Historic and controversial changes to Michigan teacher tenure cleared the Legislature on Thursday night as it wrapped up a dizzying first six months of the term with a final round of major action on items like the health insurance claims tax, pig hunting and bad driver fees.

With the conclusion of voting in the Senate at 8 p.m. and the House at 10:45 p.m. – the latest session day of the year so far – the Legislature is scheduled to return for just one day each in July and August before resuming a regular schedule in September.

One major item Governor Rick Snyder badly wanted approved before the break was left unfinished. The House and Senate were unable to finish legislation on how to force public employees to pay more toward their health insurance premiums.

But the tenure action was huge and represents not only a fulfillment of one the major education proposals from Mr. Snyder, but also a long-sought goal of Republicans to chop away at tenure, which critics say has made bad teachers virtually untouchable and able to continue in their jobs.

Although Senate Republicans had talked of making additional changes to what the Education Committee already had done with HB 4625 , HB 4626 , HB 4627 and HB 4628 , in the end, they basically kept intact what emerged from the committee. Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair), the Education Committee chair, said the discontinuation of seniority playing a role in tenure is big.

The legislation makes it easier for school districts to fire teachers considered ineffective with three consecutive ineffective ratings for a tenured teacher being cause for dismissal. The legislation would allow the dismissal of probationary teachers at any time and the dismissal or demotion of teachers on continuing tenure for a reason that was not arbitrary and capricious instead of the current mandate that firings must be for reasonable and just cause. The probationary period would grow from four years to five years.

The package also spells out explicitly that when schools have to reduce workforce for financial reasons, they will put an emphasis on ensuring that effective teachers remain on the job as opposed to laying off teachers based on seniority.

“That’s an absolute sea change in the way we grant tenure,” Pavlov said.

The package also requires creation of a Governor’s Council on Educator Effectiveness to establish guidelines for evaluation of teachers and administrators, those assessments being required of a teacher each year. HB 4627 specifically says that beginning in 2013-14, assessment will be based 25 percent on student growth; in 2014-15, 40 percent on student growth; and beginning in 2015-16, 49 percent on student growth.

And the legislation would speed the tenure process.

“This is a sad day for Michigan students,” said Michigan Education Association President Iris Salters in a statement. “Whenever the working conditions of Michigan school employees are threatened, the learning conditions of students are deeply affected. We will do everything in our power to fight back.”

Democrats assailed the changes.

“Paris Hilton has a better chance at winning an Oscar than this bill does in doing anything positive or for reforming the public education system,” said Sen. Coleman Young II (D-Detroit), drawing a huge roar from teachers in the gallery.

Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) said the state is devaluing its teachers and remarked, “I have a sister that’s a teacher – not in this state, thank God.”

When Gleason concluded his comments, someone in the gallery shouted, “Recall!”

Two of the bills (HB 4625 and HB 4626) passed on 25-13 votes with Sen. Roger Kahn of Saginaw Township the lone Republican to join Democrats in opposition.

HB 4627 and HB 4628 were closer votes with six Republicans – Sen. Tom Casperson of Escanaba, Sen. Bruce Caswell of Hillsdale, Sen. Rick Jones of Grand Ledge, Mr. Kahn, Sen. Mike Nofs of Battle Creek and Sen. Tory Rocca of Sterling Heights – joining Democrats in opposition.

Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) had spoken of “softening” the bills to avoid the appearance of attacking teachers. Thursday, Pavlov said major changes weren’t needed, only more discussion with Republican senators.

“The more we talked about it, the better understanding we got,” he said.

Pavlov said he personally would have supported total repeal of tenure, but there was not enough support to do so. In the end, the problem with the current system, Pavlov said, is, “It was very complicated, very costly and it protected teachers that weren’t effective.”

The House gave final approval to the tenure bills about 10 p.m.

Rep. Bill Rogers (R-Brighton), who sponsored the main measure in HB 4625, said the votes Thursday made for a “historic day for the education of Michigan children.”

“No longer will ineffective teachers stay in the classroom because of out-of-date tenure laws,” he said. “Approving this legislation ensures our children receive the top-notch education they deserve and hard-working teachers are recognized for their performance.”

But Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) said the tenure bills were actually a “smokescreen” for decimating collective bargaining for teachers.

“There’s simply nothing left,” he said. “We actually picked up more no votes on our side of the aisle because they made it worse.”

HB 4625 passed 66-42 with Rep. Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Township), Rep. Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit), Rep. Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland), Rep. Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills) and Rep. Maureen Stapleton (D-Detroit) joining Republicans in support.

HB 4626 passed 60-48 with Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville) and Rep. Thomas Hooker (R-Byron Center) joining most Democrats in opposition. Rep. Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills) voted “yes” with the Republicans.

HB 4627 passed 64-44 with Cavanagh, Jackson, Melton and Stapleton joining Republicans in support while Rep. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) voted “no” with most Democrats.

And HB 4628 passed 58-50 with Rep. Ken Goike (R-Ray Township), Hooker, McBroom, and Rep. Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City) joining most Democrats in opposition. Melton voted yes.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

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