SB 294 & SB 575

I was watching the video coverage of the Senate proceeding on 2/22/11 and saw 2 bills be passed of particular interest to new teachers:

1. SB 294: Essentially mandates that school corporations hiring teachers who had not previously held a teaching license in another district must enter into a 60-day probationary contract with that new teacher.  After 30 days, the teacher must be evaluated and must meet with the principal.  After 60 days, if the teacher's performance is not acceptable, the district has the right to terminate the teacher's contract without the due process afforded to tenured or non-probationary teachers. You can see the Senate debate this bill on the video link from 1:03:00 to 1:24:00.  Senator Lanane, (D)-Anderson, sums up my general opinion of the bill when he notes, "I'm sure glad they didn't come in after one week and judge me," to which the author of the bill, Senator Holdman, (R)-Markle, replied, "Well that's why you're a lawyer, son" (1:22:00).  That is, despite the opinion of a principal interviewed by Senator Holdman noting that teachers can be judged after one week, I don't feel that 60 days is not enough time to give a probationary teacher.  As a pre-service teacher, the fact that this bill passed the Senate really scares me.
2. SB 575: This bill greatly hinders teachers' collective bargaining powers over their contracts and limits the power of teachers' unions.  This bill can be seen on the video from 2:36:00 to 3:13:00 and was ultimately passed in the Senate.  Senator Rogers, (D)-Gary, does a good job of explaining that unions not only fight for teachers' rights but also fight for quality conditions, such as low class sizes, advanced technology, and reasonable building conditions - all of which students need to learn in the classroom.