Posted: 8/7/02

School rebuts criticism of community expert use

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Dick Tschida went before the ISD 831 Board of Education with complaints about use of non-licensed community experts Monday and was met with answers by the administration.

Tschida, a Forest Lake resident and former school board member, now serves on the state board of teaching. He has repeatedly gone before the school board with complaints over the districtís use of community experts rather than licensed teachers.

Tschida, during an earlier visit this year, said the district should refrain from using community experts in light of the glut of teachers in the job market now caused by massive layoffs and new graduates entering the profession.

During his visit on Monday, Tschida said the district ìdid not heed my recommendation.î

He was miffed that ISD 831 had used the community expert route to fill three special education teaching jobs.

In light of the decision, Tschida asked the administration to deliver a detailed explanation to the parents of students who would be taught by community experts. If the district did not comply, he said he would take steps to notify the parents on his own.

School response

But at Mondayís meeting, Tschida did not return to his seat without a firm rebuttal from the administration.

Superintendent Lynn Steenblock thanks Tschida for his comments and suggestions but reminded him the three community expert slots were necessary and approved by the state board of teaching as required.

Steenblock said teachers designated as community experts have been used in the past by ISD 831 when licensed teachers in a particular field can not be hired. All are hired on a one-year contract and terminated each spring.

For this fallís hires, Steenblock said the district advertised for the five special education jobs that were open. He said 43 applications were received.

Of the 43, 13 were fully licensed in special education areas. Steenblock said the 13 candidates were contacted for interviews, but eight choose not to do so.

Of the five who elected to interview, all were offered contracts, the superintendent said. Two were hired, but three accepted jobs elsewhere, he said.

Steenblock said the district had no choice but to utilize community experts or run the risk of not having staff in place for the start of school.

ìItís not that we take this lightly at all,î Steenblock said of the use of non-licensed community experts. He said the administration is concerned with the skills of teachers and wonít sacrifice quality in the classroom simply to have a ìwarm bodyî teaching the class.

He said the district has gone to job fairs, advertised in newspapers and posted the positions widely in hope of securing licensed teachers. He reminded Tschida that the three community experts hired have related skills and are on track to receiving their state license.

ìItís not like they are in welding,î Steenblock said. One of the candidates has a degree in social work.

Based on Tschidaís pointed remarks, Steenblock said the public should not have the impression the non-licensed community experts hired by the district are simply ìwalking in off the streetsî to teach students in ISD 831 classes.

He said the district has met all the requirements of the board of teaching and will utilize non-licensed community experts when no other avenue is available.

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