Massena, St. Lawrence teachers unions agree on performance review implementation

MASSENA — The Massena Central School District is one of the latest to work successfully with its teachers union on the implementation of the performance review.

The district and the Massena Federation of Teachers agreed on an annual professional performance review, the new standard for measuring the capability of educators in the classroom, on Thursday.

In May, the state Board of Regents adopted the statewide system that includes several ways to evaluate instructors.

The regulations will take effect during the 2011-12 school year for math and English language arts teachers in grades four through eight; they will take effect for other teachers in the 2012-13 school year.

Using a 100-point scale, teacher performance will be labeled highly effective, effective, developing or ineffective. These rankings will be based in part on classroom observations and administrator walk-through visits, as well as student test achievements and growth in the subject area.

“Originally we were worried that too much emphasis would be placed on student grades, grades that could vary widely based on the student population. This agreement provides a more complete and accurate picture of teacher performance,” Superintendent Roger B. Clough II said.

“This is a great accomplishment for the Massena Federation of Teachers and the district. It shows we are working together to provide the best education for our community’s children,” he said.

Mr. Clough told board members that, while there was “give and take” in the process, “the teachers did a wonderful job.”

The St. Lawrence Central School District’s Board of Education had also approved the process for performance reviews with St. Lawrence Central United Teachers during a session Wednesday.

“I give BOCES a lot of credit. They took the lead last summer with volunteer administrators and teachers from throughout all the districts, and with NYSUT’s participation and the BOCES Employer-Employee Relations Office,” Superintendent Stephen M. Putman said.

Groups explored specific topics, according to Mr. Putman, who was on the Appeals Committee. Based on the information garnered through a four-day process, the St. Lawrence-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services developed a template for the reviews with input from teacher groups, unions and management in all 18 component districts.

Norwood-Norfolk Central School was way ahead of the curve, approving the implementation with the Norwood-Norfolk Teachers Association in October, making it the first school in St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES to do so.

Like Mr. Putman, Superintendent Elizabeth A. Kirnie commended BOCES for its efforts over the summer with teachers and administrators.