LOYAL READERS! WE’RE ZOOMING WITH THE DAWG THIS FRIDAY AT 10! ELVIN HOUSTON, ONE OF MY PARTNERS FROM SAN ANTONIO, WILL BE JOINING ME AS WE FOCUS ON SPECIAL ED ISSUES. SO GET YOUR DIAGS AND DIRECTORS TO JOIN US! IF YOU ARE NOT YET SIGNED UP, JUST SEND AN EMAIL TO INFO@WABSA.COM.
A wise decision by the Commissioner will likely avoid an uprising among the assistant principals of Texas. The issue that could have sparked this revolt was: is the A.P. entitled to a Chapter 21 contract? The conventional wisdom about that has always been: of course. Imagine the arc of the career of an educator if that were not the case. Most principals rise through the ranks from teacher to A.P. to principal. They serve a probationary period at first, and then move on to a term contract. But at all times, as certified educators, they have a Chapter 21 contract. So if A.P.s were not entitled to a Chapter 21 contract, the person would go from a Chapter 21 contract as a teacher; to a non-Chapter 21 arrangement as an A.P.; and then back to a Chapter 21 contract as a principal. That would be strange.
Lawyers representing Mission CISD argued that the conventional wisdom is wrong, and that A.P.s should not be given a Chapter 21 contract. This argument was based on T.E.C. 21.002 which spells out who is entitled to a Chapter 21 contract. The statute lists the groups that should be given a Chapter 21 contract as “each classroom teacher, principal, librarian, nurse, or school counselor.” Notice who is missing from that list? There is no mention of A.P.s.
The Commissioner prevented the rupture in the ranks by citing a 2015 decision (Cooksy v. Dallas ISD, Dkt. No. 027-R10-03-2015) for the proposition that the term “principal” encompasses both principals and A.P.s.
Whew! I’m relieved….aren’t you? I mean with everything else that’s going on, we sure don’t need our A.P.’s going to the barricades.
Today’s case is Solis v. Mission CISD, Docket No. 056-R1-07-2013, decided by the Commissioner on May 17 2021.
DAWG BONE: A.P.s GET A CHAPTER 21 CONTRACT. IT’S ONLY RIGHT.
Got a question or comment for the Dawg? Let me hear from you at jwalsh@wabsa.com.
Tomorrow: Toolbox Tuesday!!