NEWS
IPEGS Insanity
United Teachers of Dade elected leadership, staff, and stewards are working feverishly to resolve the unprecedented number of issues our members have shared with us over the past week regarding IPEGS Summative Evaluations. Your frustration has been communicated to us loud and clear. We are equally appalled at the blatant disregard for procedures, timelines, and the lack of respect demonstrated at some schools by some administrators.
We have met with district officials about these issues and today reached agreement on SOME of them. Below are issues on which we have agreed:
• Professionals may submit a written response to the administration for consideration, prior to the end of this school year (6/8/12), when a summative rating is a concern to the professional. A conversation may or may not occur subsequent to this submission. This does not preclude the later submission of a response, to be attached as an addendum, to the Evaluation.
• A written response, should the professional wish one to be attached to the Summative Evaluation, does not waive the right to appeal or challenge the final rating.
• Signature on the Summative Evaluation signifies receipt only and does not waive the professional’s right to appeal or append the final Summative Evaluation.
• Within 30 days after receipt of the final Summative Evaluation, which will be completed after the student performance data has been received from the State, the professional will have the right to formally appeal the evaluation per Article XIII, Section 2.
• Cut scores for purposes of Standard 1 points are not yet finalized and will be negotiated during this summer of 2012.
• The IPEGS appeals process is implemented per Article XIII, Section 2.
• The IPEGS evaluation ratings do not have an effect on the Race to the Top (RTTT) performance pay award distributions for 2012.
We have also agreed that Master Plan Point (MPP) certificates, while preferred, are not required to be submitted with your IPDP. However, documentation of classes must be attached to your Documentation Cover Sheet.
As you can see, we know these clarifications will relieve some angst but by no means resolve all of the issues out there. We have provided the district with many of your specific issues and have asked that they contact your principals to attempt resolution quickly. As it is the last week of the school year, some resolutions won’t occur before the last day of school, but that will not stop us from moving forward on your behalf over the summer months. We will communicate with each and every one of you who have brought issues to our attention once we have answers for your specific cases.
Remember, please, nothing happens quickly, no matter how hard we push – and we are pushing HARD! No one will be negatively impacted financially this year or next year. We are also awaiting the outcome of the lawsuits filed by Florida Education Association and their impact on the 2014-15 school year when there are potential financial implications. UTD will pursue any and all legal remedies available to us to bring about these necessary resolutions.
We may be calling on you this summer. Please email us your cell phone number and personal email to one of the email addresses below so we can easily contact you.
Also, continue to communicate with us through email (preferably) at any of the following addresses: randy@utd.org; freida@utd.org; charles@utd.org; or tom@utd.org.