Salt Lake City Schools Accused of Tolerating High Turnover of Teachers at West-Side Schools (The Republic)

By PAUL FOY  Associated Press February 28, 2013 – 11:32 am EST SALT LAKE CITY — A school board member has filed a federal civil-rights complaint against the Salt Lake City school district about the quality of teachers at schools in working-class neighborhoods. Board member Michael Clara’s complaint about a high turnover of rookie teachers on the city’s west side is opening a debate about perceived inequalities in education. The Civil Rights Office of the U.S. … Continue reading

The Truth Is Not Their Friend

Superintendent Issued A Media Advisory : District Media Advisory The superintendent’s media advisory is quoted in the Tribune: “We are disappointed that [Clara] feels the need to seek solutions by contacting federal officials in Denver instead of working collaboratively with the Board of Education and the district,” the statement reads. “We believe Mr. Clara’s complaints can and should be addressed through established board protocol. We are committed to advocating for all students.” (Link To Article). As the Tribune … Continue reading

Experienced Teacher Inequity: School Board Was Aware in 2012

  010312SBPortion The school board was informed over a year ago that there was an inequitable distribution of experienced teachers in the district. The audio above, is a portion of the 01/03/2012 school board meeting where they were discussing student achievement. In the audio above you will hear a portion of the meeting. The full meeting can be accessed on the districts web page. In the audio above, the school board was just informed that “students in … Continue reading

Do West-Side Salt Lake City Kids Have Too Many Ineffective Teachers? (Tribune)

Education•School board member Michael Clara files complaint with federal civil rights office, concerned about disproportionate numbers of effective,experienced teachers in eastside schools.BY SHEENA MCFARLAND AND RAY PARKER THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 26, 2013 11:38AM UPDATED: FEBRUARY 26, 2013 05:48PMA Salt Lake City School Board member filed a complaint Tuesday with the federal Office of Civil Rights asserting there are too many ineffective and inexperienced teachers in west-side schools.Michael Clara, who represents the city … Continue reading

Deseret News,Letters: Step Up, School Boards (opinion section)

  Letters: Step up, school boards  Published: Tuesday, Feb. 26 2013 12:00 a.m. MST The editorial “Culture of can’t” is so true (Feb. 23). As a newly elected member of the board of education in Salt Lake City, I can fully attest to your observations. Every time I walk into a school board meeting, I feel like I am going to a piñata party and I am the piñata. Close cousins to the “culture of … Continue reading

Salt Lake Teachers Association

Elaine Tzourtzouklis, Executive Director &                                                                                             Susan McFarland, President Met with SLTA Leadership today. SLTA is the professional organization for teachers in the Salt Lake City School District focused on improving … Continue reading