Prop S helps Parkway Schools, Amendment Three hurts all Missouri schools

The upcoming election on Nov. 4, 2014, has a ballot with two items that affect Parkway North: Amendment Three and Proposition S. Amendment Three is an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that requires teacher evaluations to be executed according to state laws. Proposition S is a bond issue that, while raising taxes for Parkway School District residents, will provide funding for the school district to repair the schools.

Opponents of Amendment Three believe the amendment should not be supported because of its “one size fits all” approach to education.

“There’s a lot of fear that it’s pushing us towards test-only evaluations and that the creativity and organic nature of teaching is going to go by the wayside,” said English teacher Jeff Church.

When evaluations come from the state, it will be nearly impossible for districts to individualize their standards and meet their students’ needs. Furthermore, the costs of testing will be great.

This amendment will also change how teachers are evaluated, basing a large portion of their evaluation on how their students do on a test. The proponents believe that the amendment will enable schools to fire or demote teachers based on an objective evaluation system (including test scores) and not worry about whether a teacher is tenured or not. They view this as a way to keep effective teachers and get rid of ineffective teachers.

“[The way we are evaluated now,] we’re basically evaluated on our professionalism, our content knowledge, our ability to create materials, our ability to differentiate with students, our relationships with our students and their parents, and our relationship with the community,” said Church. “This new system [proposed in the amendment] is based on a business model, and teaching is not a business.”

The amendment requires teachers to enter into contracts of three years or fewer with public school districts, and does not give teachers the right to “collectively bargain” to change the evaluation system.

Another item on the ballot that could change school environments in Parkway is Proposition S.

Proposition S is a bond issue that would give $94 million to Parkway schools; although there would be a tax increase. According to Parkway, the funding would be used for student safety, security, and health; middle school science labs; and technology. This includes the HVAC system at North, which failed one day in August. Because of the heat in the school, students were sent home before lunch.

“I feel like the district ignores the potential harm this building has on our education and possible health, which makes me a little frustrated because classes are gross, and they make me feel like I need to bathe,” said senior Alayna Huthsing.

This bond issue would cost the average Parkway homeowner $62 a year.

“I think if taxes need to increase for our schools to be better for education then I believe it is essential,” said Huthsing.

Parkway North is a polling place this year, and many will arrive at North to decide how or if to change Missouri schools, including North.

By Molly Thal, Editor-in-Chief