- Teacher's Union
- Judge Rolf Treu
- Los Angeles Superior Court
- 'The evidence is compelling
- It shocks the conscious
- Treu ruled these statutes unconstitutional
- grossly ineffective teachers
- California Teacher's Association
- Silicon Valley executive David Welch
- John Deast
- Los Angeles Unified Shool District
- Jim Finburg
- Vergara v. California trial
- teacher layoff process
Teachers’ union vows to appeal
By Trevor Hill
June 11, 2014 (Los Angeles) -- Judge Rolf Treu of the Los Angeles Superior Court delivered his ruling this Tuesday, June 10th, on the highly controversial Vergara v. California trial, which sought to determine the constitutionality of statutes which grant teachers tenure, complicate the teacher layoff process, and value seniority over skill when determining which teachers must be laid off.
Treu ruled these statutes unconstitutional, stating that, "evidence has been elicited in this trial to the specific effect of grossly ineffective teachers on students. The evidence is compelling. Indeed, it shocks the conscious."
The plaintiffs were nine California students. Their legal battle was funded by Silicon Valley executive David Welch. In opposition was the State of California and two teachers' unions; the Teachers' Federation of California, and the California Teachers' Association.
The first witness called to the stand during the eight week trial was John Deast, the super intendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. He said Tuesday after the ruling that, "this is a truly historic day for our education system. Today's decision is a call to action to begin implementing, without delay, the solutions that help address the problems highlighted in the Vergara trial. Every day that these laws remain in effect is an opportunity denied. It's unacceptable, and a violation of our education system's sacred pact with the public."
Jim Finburg, the lawyer who represented the teachers' unions in the trial, is confident that the evidence is on their side. His party plans on appealing the decision when it is finalized next month. "I don't think this opinion reflects the substantial evidence presented at trial," he said. "We believe the statutes do work well and serve an important government interest."
In the past, the San Diego Unified School District (one of the top performing urban school districts in the state) has rejected attempts to do away with tenure and protections for experienced teachers. San Diego's schools have flourished under this system. Once union statutes that protect teachers are done away with, each school district will be allowed to make its own guidelines concerning tenure and teacher layoffs. Because of San Diego's consistent and momentous success under the unions' system, it is unlikely that regulations for San Diego schools will change as a result of the Vergara trial.
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