Indiana

IPS, What a Mess!

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Indianapolis Public School teachers say it is virtually  impossible for them to do their jobs because the district won’t discipline problem students.  The complaint is part of a continuing fight between the teachers and the administration over wages and working conditions.

More than 200 teachers and their supporters showed up at Tuesday night’s school board meeting to express their concerns. 

Teachers say that in certain schools it is impossible to maintain discipline in the classroom because if they kick a student out, the district just sends them back.  I am scratching my head as to why a school district would not remove problem students from the classroom.

One bit of good news for teachers is that IPS has backed off withholding their pay in order to make adjustments to the district’s pay schedules.   IPS officials had planned to withhold one day of pay for five weeks, but the Indiana Education Association filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations board arguing the withholding of pay would violate their union contracts.  IPS has since backed off that move and teachers will be paid.

You can hear the entire interview with teacher spokeswoman Rhonda Cornett by clicking below.

Rhonda Cornett

And once again, people wonder why I support school choice.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 18, 2009 (boomark / email).