05-05-09 Item 7VA
I RESOLUTION NO.
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4 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
5 THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, RELATING TO HOUSE
6 BILL 1411 "QUALITY TEACHERS FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT"
7 OPPOSING THE PASSAGE HOUSE BILL 1411 WHICH IF PASSED
8 WOULD FURTHER DIMINISH MORALE AND DISCOURAGE
9 QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FROM CHOOSING THE TEACHING
10 PROFESSION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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13 WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission supports a system of high quality
14 elementary and secondary schools for all children in Florida; and
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16 WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission supports increased professionalism
17 for teachers including stringent teacher preparation standards, comprehensive teacher and
18 principal evaluations, and increased teacher compensation; and,
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20 WHEREAS, the intent of HB 1411 is to keep teachers accountable and to prevent
21 ineffective teachers from working in the system for two or three decades. But, rather than
22 focusing on those teachers who need additional training or assistance, the House Bill
23 1411 applies to all educators; and,
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25 WHEREAS, the teaching profession already loses fifty percent (50 %) of
26 new staff members in the first seven years, the proposed changes in HB 1411 will
27 further devastate the supply of teachers; and
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29 WHEREAS, HB 1411 allows a teacher to be dismissed without any basis after
30 five years - minimizing the effectiveness of appraisal or assessment process; and,
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32 WHEREAS, HB 1411 does not provide guidance in building teacher
33 effectiveness, does nothing to attract or retain teachers and only provides a pathway for
34 removal of teachers.
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36 WHEREAS, if passed HB 1411 will provide a more uncertainty for teachers.
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38 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
39 COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA;
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42 Section 1. That the Mayor and City Commission does hereby state its
43 opposition to HB 1411.
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45 Section 2. That the Mayor and City Commission encourage the Legislature
46 not adopt this piecemeal approach but rather address all aspects of teacher quality and
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teacher effectiveness by including legislation that also focuses on new teacher induction,
teacher compensation, teacher training, teacher performance, teacher contracts, peer
assistance and review.
Section 3. The Mayor and City Commission directs the City Clerk to transmit
a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the
Chair and Members of the Miami -Dade County State Legislative Delegation, the
Presiding Officer and Members of the municipalities in Miami -Dade County and the
Executive Director of the Miami - League of Cities.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2009.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Luis R. Figueredo,
Office of City Attorney
Page 2 of 2
APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Feliu:
Vice Mayor Beasley:
Commissioner Palmer:
Commissioner Newman