Cuomo's Layoff Proposal Extends To ALL Schools In The State, Not Just NYC Schools

The earlier LIFO bill passed by the state senate only changed layoff rules in NYC schools.

The proposal Little Andy issued tonight changes them ALL over the state:

ALBANY, NEW YORK (WXXI) - The push to change teacher hiring rules to end the policy of last hired first fired got a boost when Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced a bill to extend the proposal to all schools in the state.

The Senate passed a one house bill that would end what's known as LIFO, the last in first out policy for unionized teachers in New York City, something Mayor Mike Bloomberg has requested as a tool to better manage expected teacher lay offs. Moments later, Governor Andrew Cuomo released his own bill, that would end LIFO in all schools in the state and institute a new teacher rating system for the 2011, 2012 school year.

"It is time to move beyond the so-called 'last in, first out' system of relying exclusively on seniority," Governor Cuomo said. "However, we need a legitimate evaluation system to rely upon. This will help make a statewide evaluation system ready and allow us to replace 'last in, first out.'"

Senate Education Committee Chair John Flanagan says he knows the bill will create "consternation and angst", but he is open to it.

Flanagan says the bill will cause "consternation and angst" because he knows that most Republicans do NOT want these changes in their districts.

Earlier when the senate was debating the bill and Flanagan was talking it up, here is what happened:

The debate was relatively speedy, with Flanagan casting the bill as a common-sense measure with numerous provisions designed to bring stakeholders to the negotiating table to work out an agreement that would supersede the legislation. As in this morning’s Education Committee hearing, Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer said the chamber shouldn’t be legislating a matter more appropriately handled in negotiation.

Sen. Kevin Parker earned murmurs for pointing out that if Flanagan’s bill was so effective at improving teacher performance, why didn’t it apply in Flanagan’s own Long Island district, or elsewhere in the state?

So will Senate Republicans be ready to make changes in their own districts for the 2011-2012 school year?

And just how fair can this system be if it's being rammed through so fast.

Bad news if you're a teacher.

Lots of unknowns here and let's face it, when it comes to unknowns, that usually means teachers are scapegoated, blamed and ultimately fired.

Just ask the teachers in Central Falls or Providence.

UPDATE: At 6:56 PM, NY 1 reports that Bloomberg says he has not seen Cuomo's proposal but STILL wants his proposal to abolish seniority-based layoffs passed as soon as possible: