System is broken, kids pay the price

Approximately 80 percent of our property tax dollars are spent on schools. So, reading the Daily Herald's article regarding higher teacher salaries hit home. In 2008 and 2009, according to a Daily Herald analysis, the districts that did not make Adequate Yearly Progress paid the highest average salary this year.

Should salary not be tied to performance? Whenever a tax increase for schools is needed, parents, teachers, and community leaders claim the children will suffer without the additional funds. Conversely, if the school or students fails, it is due to a poorly developed test or subgroups who bring the scores down.

What should we focus on? Nearly 41 percent of the Illinois state schools failed to meet standards this year. It is time for a change. Not surprisingly, the Illinois legislature has let the citizens down yet again. State law requires only one evaluation per year for nontenured teachers and only one evaluation every two years for tenured teachers. Only one classroom observation of no set time length is required. If test scores are not a valid assessment of a teachers performance, should a once a year classroom observation be?

Our students need the best teachers available. Tenure is obsolete. How many professions guarantee a job after only four years of employment? In fact, how many professions guarantee a job after any number of years of employment?

The system is broken, and our children pay the price. The answer is not to throw more money at the problem. Districts that did not make Adequate Yearly Progress in 2008 and 2009, paid the highest average salary of $69,441. This does not include large pensions and benefit packages. With this type of salary, teachers need to meet standards and be held accountable. If they do not, I know many newly graduated teachers waiting anxiously to get a classroom of their own.

Carolyn Palash

Winfield