The Buffalo School District plans to scrap its memorandum of understanding on teacher evaluations. In a written statement, Superintendent Dr. Pamela Brown says the State Education Department determined the MOU between the district and the Buffalo Teachers Federation is void.BTF President Phil Rumore says because evaluations are "new and untried" many districts made similar agreements. Rumore says the system is flawed.
"There are four categories: effective, highly effective, developing, or ineffective. One teacher had ratings in 20 of the categories as effective and two as highly effective, but still wound up with an ineffective rating. How is that fair to say that that teacher's job should then be on the line?," Rumore said.
Rumore says the district can not simply void a binding legal agreement. The union leader says as many as 100 other districts across the state entered into similar agreements on teacher evaluations. He says the union will fight the decision and win.
"They have no way of invalidating a legal document that was signed by the superintendent and myself," Rumore said.
Calls seeking comment from the superintendent were not returned.