United Teachers of Wichita urges board to reduce teacher paperwork, says DOJ settlement increased documentation demands
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Summary
United Teachers of Wichita told the Board the DOJ settlement has brought more documentation requirements (FBAs, FIPs) and that teachers are taking on added prep and assessment tasks; the union requested fewer meetings/PD, more planning time, and administrative training to ensure consistent application of behavior expectations.
A representative of the United Teachers of Wichita told the Board of Education that teachers in the district are experiencing rising workloads tied to new documentation requirements and curriculum changes.
"One thing that we've asked over and over again is what are we taking off teachers' plates?" the union speaker asked. Union testimony listed expanded documentation tied to a Department of Justice settlement, more FBAs and FIPs, additional prep for a new math series and a tier 3 reading intervention program, and ongoing concerns about inconsistent behavior responses across buildings.
The union asked for concrete steps the district could take to reduce noninstructional burden: fewer meetings and professional development sessions, more planning time, materials for the new math series, and reconsideration of grading/scoreboard expectations. District representatives said they had invited the Office of Behavior Management to the union meeting to improve clarity and training for administrators so expectations are applied consistently.
Board members and other attendees acknowledged the tension between accountability documentation and time demands on teachers and thanked the presenters for raising issues that the board and administration will continue to examine.