An unsigned memo from the St. Croix Federation of Teachers telling teachers they do not have to administer standardized tests and asking if they wish to proctor the ITBS/VITAL tests next week has prompted a harsh denunciation from the Education Department.
The memo, sent to St. Croix Federation of Teaches members Monday, says it is from building representatives, but does not name an author. It asserts that teachers are not required to proctor tests and suggests the union is considering telling its members not to participate. It does not say one way or the other, however, whether the union will, in fact, direct its members not to participate.
"As our positions, duties, and responsibilities are specifically and expressly defined and outlined in the CBA and do not include proctoring standardized tests, we wish to gather responses to the following questions," the union memo says. It then asks if teachers want to proctor the VITAL tests next week, if members believe the union president should issue a statement saying teachers will not be proctoring he tests, and if they will comply if the union’s position is to not proctor the tests.
In seeming contradiction to the memo, the teachers union contract, which can be viewed and downloaded from the union website – http://stcroixfederationofteachers.org/contracts.html – does not appear to either specify teachers duties and responsibilities, or to expressly define them. Instead, it appears to specifically give the Education Department the prerogative to determine teacher duties.
Under "Department of Education Prerogatives," the contract specifies Education has power over "the executive management and administrative control of the school system and its properties and facilities and the activities of its employees," and the power "to determine class schedules, the hours of instruction and the duties, responsibilities and assignments of teachers …” (emphasis added).
While specific duties are not itemized, the contract has an extensive, highly specific list of limitations on what Education may direct teachers to do. The contract specifies that "(e)lementary teachers shall not be required to supervise recess," that "teachers shall not be required to keep registers," or "collect money for any purpose," for example. The contract also specifies teachers "shall not be required to score standardized tests," but the contract does not specify teachers shall not be required to proctor those tests.
In calls for clarification after 5 p.m. Friday, St. Croix Federation of Teachers President James Howell could not be reached for comment and clarification when this story was sent for publication.
Around 4:30 p.m. Friday, the Education Department sent out a statement castigating the union for considering the action, saying department officials were concerned about the potential impact on students, including: increased student stress levels, poor test performance, and the creation of irregularities in the schedule that could be difficult for administrators to overcome. Also, according to Education, this specific union action could jeopardize critical federal funding tied to the administration of the VITAL and federal No Child Left Behind mandates for reporting and accountability.
Perhaps more to the point, Education officials are insisting that "administering and monitoring the VITAL is part of the teachers’ normal responsibilities and in no way violates the provisions of their collective bargaining agreement," as well as being the long established practice.
Both District Superintendents are working with their respective school principals to ensure that testing is conducted smoothly, on schedule and without unnecessary interruption. The Department is also asking parents to continue to encourage their children to do their very best next week on the VITAL, as they have diligently prepared all year long for the test.
The Department, through the Office of Collective Bargaining (OCB), has also reached out to union’s leadership and requested that they advise their members to continue carrying out their regular duties.
According to Education, OCB’s Chief Negotiator Valdemar Hill Jr. sent a letter to both District’s union presidents saying any job action or work stoppage could be considered a violation of the collective bargaining agreement and V.I. law.
Hill said such a violation is subject to disciplinary action, and the union could be held legally responsible for any damages incurred by the government, and requested both union leaders investigate the situation and send him the results by 3 p.m. Saturday.
Public school teachers and employees throughout the territory have been extremely upset over the past year by a number of government actions taken in response to a severe, ongoing budget crisis. Teachers, like other government employees, have experienced an 8 percent pay cut, hiring freezes, short staffing due to large numbers of retirements, and layoffs due to economic necessity. There have been several organized protests, on weekends and during lunch hours.
