TSTA's Region 1E Considers Legal Issues
Region 1E held a legal issues conference on January 26 that was conducted by Joey Moore, TSTA General Counsel and Director of Legal Services. It was attended by members from Donna, Harlingen, Mercedes, San Benito and Weslaco.

TSTA Help Center
Don't forget, we're here for you Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time to answer your questions. more

What Happens If Your Campus Is Reconstituted?
If a campus is identified as academically unacceptable for two consecutive school years, including the current year, the Commissioner of Education must order the campus to be reconstituted and appoint a campus intervention team (CIT). The CIT will decide which educators may be retained at the campus. Teachers who teach reading, writing, math, social studies or science may be retained at the campus only if the CIT determines "that a pattern exists of significant academic improvement by students taught by the teacher." If the teacher is not retained on that campus, the teacher may be assigned to another position in the district.

The statute requiring reconstitution does not specifically call for teachers’ terminations. TSTA will challenge proposed terminations of teacher members that occur as a result of a campus reconstitution. If you are reassigned as the result of a reconstitution, TSTA will help you determine whether there is a basis to challenge that reassignment. Unfortunately, teachers of core subjects (reading, writing, math, social studies and/or science) may be reassigned at the CIT’s discretion.

Contact the TSTA Help Center at 877-ASK-TSTA if you have any questions regarding campus reconstitution. 

Help Center
Our Help Center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT every school day--8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer--to serve you. Call 877-ASK-TSTA (877-275-8782) toll free; experts are standing by to answer your questions, legal or otherwise. These folks have extensive training and experience on matters involving your rights and responsibilities as a school employee. If there's something they can't handle, they have immediate access to the attorneys. (Please note that the Help Center isn't just for legal matters--it's your first point of contact for any question about education or the association.)

Experienced Attorneys
Along with the liability coverage, you have six staff attorneys and a network of outside attorneys all of which comprise a top-notch legal team to protect your employment rights. Every year, TSTA spends more than a quarter of a million dollars on cases approved for legal action. And once a case is approved, TSTA won't send you a bill for attorneys' fees!

Defense Funds
NEA spends more than $14 million each year for legal support of members through the NEA Unified Legal Services Program, which shares in funding by state associations including TSTA.

Some examples of TSTA and NEA legal cases:

• A parent called for the dismissal of a teacher who tapped her son's ankle with her foot to get his attention while he was crouched on the floor. The parent believed Child Protective Services should have been called. The local school board voted unanimously to deny all relief requested by the parent. 

• More than 100 TSTA members were awarded reimbursements ranging from $1000 to $4000—a total of $149,000—by the Texas Supreme Court because their salary schedules were frozen after they were contractually bound to teach in their school district the following year. 

• TSTA took a case to the Texas Supreme Court in defense of the independent teacher dismissal process (established through a TSTA bill that passed the legislature in 1995) and won! 

• NEA assisted the U.S. Supreme Court in answering the question of whether peer grading violates federal law. A federal circuit court of appeals had ruled against the practice; the Supreme Court reversed the decision, upholding teacher autonomy.

Obviously, the results of any given case may vary, depending on the facts of the case. However, these examples are demonstrative of TSTA's resolve to protect your employment rights!

When you have a question or concern, TSTA/NEA is there for you. Call 877-ASK-TSTA (877-275-8782)!