Teacher tenure, protests on line in education reform sessions
By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com Dec 17, 2010 8:08PM
Illinois State Representatives Keith Farnham and Linda Chapa LaVia converse during the House Committee on Education Reform panel discussion at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, Ill., on Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. | Corey R. Minkanic~For Sun-Times Media
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AURORA — If some school reform advocates have their way, it could be more difficult for public school teachers to obtain tenure and for teachers unions to strike in Illinois.
On Thursday and Friday, a panel of eight state legislators gathered at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora to hear testimony about controversial measures that would affect Illinois public schools and teachers unions.
The possible reforms being considered by Illinois House members include making teacher tenure tougher to acquire, making it more difficult for teacher unions to strike and considering performance evaluations when a school decides to hire or fire.
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, said these are issues some community leaders have been trying to fix for more than 20 years.
“I don’t know how rapidly we’ll be moving on possible legislation, but it’s been an extremely thoughtful discussion on all sides,” she said.
