2015 -- S 1027

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LC002944

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE COSTS,

BENEFITS, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER CONTRACT IN

RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Gallo, Ruggerio, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2015

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Public education is a priority for Rhode Island's families, communities,

educators, and lawmakers. Each year, supporters of K-12 schools passionately advocate for the

resources that are needed to ensure that every learner receives the instruction and opportunities

that will allow them to flourish; and

     WHEREAS, Classroom teachers remain the most important school-based factor

contributing to students' academic success. Because of the central role that teachers play in

supporting student achievement, school districts in Rhode Island invest considerable time

developing and negotiating contracts that strive to put into place the conditions that promote

teacher excellence, satisfaction, and growth; and

     WHEREAS, Under Rhode Island General Law, local school districts must engage in

teacher contract negotiations every three years, a process that involves the active participation of

superintendents, business officers, teacher representatives, and teacher union personnel, as well as

elected and appointed members of local school committees. The time that is spent on teacher

contracts means that these talented professionals have less time to devote to the important tasks of

overseeing district policy, operating schools, and attending to student learning; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island statutes contain provisions that create challenges to the most

effective placement of teachers, including limiting the ease of movement from one district to

another, or sharing resources, where certain skills may be needed; and

     WHEREAS, As the smallest state in the nation, Rhode Island may benefit from having

the state assume responsibility for negotiating a single statewide teacher contract, which allows

stakeholders in local school districts to focus more of their energy and efforts on student learning;

and

     WHEREAS, In 2003, the General Assembly directed the Rhode Island Department of

Administration (DOA) to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of a statewide teacher contract. The

DOA's report, submitted to the General Assembly on May 12, 2004, provided estimates of the

impact of a single statewide teacher contract that varied too widely to be useful as a basis for

decision-making; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Foundation has recently undertaken a comprehensive

study to gather information that will help to determine if students, teachers, school districts, and

taxpayers would benefit, instructionally and financially, from a single statewide teacher contract;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of eleven (11) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

Senate, not more than one from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the

Senate; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Administration, or designee; one

of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Chair of the Board of Education's Council on Elementary and Secondary

Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the Rhode Island School

Superintendents' Association, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be representatives of the

National Education Association Rhode Island, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two

(2) of whom shall be representatives of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health

Professionals, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be the

Chairperson of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees, or designee.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and make

recommendations regarding the costs, benefits, and impact on taxpayers of a statewide teacher

contract in Rhode Island, which shall include salaries, benefits, incentives, and work conditions.

In studying these issues, the commission is encouraged to:

     (1) Review the impact of current Rhode Island General Laws, including § 16-7-29 which

allows for up to twelve (12) annual teacher salary steps, and other laws that may deter the optimal

matching of teaching professionals and school districts;

     (2) Utilize recent studies that will contribute to the focus and recommendations of the

commission;

     (3) Examine trends, current policies, and available data pertaining to teacher salaries,

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benefits, incentives, and work conditions in school districts in Rhode Island, regionally, and

nationwide;

     (4) Identify the particular and total potential costs and benefits that would be incurred

with a single statewide teacher contract using different assumptions and models;

     (5) Identify the components that would be most practicable to include in a statewide

teacher contract;

     (6) Identify statutory and regulatory changes that would have to take place to allow a

statewide teacher contract; and

     (7) Identify a transition process that would allow all school districts in Rhode Island to

migrate to a statewide contract within a six (6) year period.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the President of the Senate who shall designate the Chair and Vice Chair.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original

appointment. A member of the public may be appointed in the place of a Senator. A simple

majority shall constitute a quorum.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

President of the Senate on or before February 1, 2016, and said commission shall expire on

March 31, 2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE COSTS,

BENEFITS, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER CONTRACT IN

RHODE ISLAND

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to study the costs, benefits, and implementation of a statewide teacher

contract in Rhode Island, and who would report back to the President of the Senate no later than

February 1, 2016, and whose life would expire on March 31, 2016.

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