Lawrence district and union agree on a win-win

Characterized as a win-win for the Lawrence School District and the Lawrence Teachers Association, both parties have agreed on a settlement regarding the use of the online learning program Aventa.

The district had used Aventa in place of summer school last year and in the process reduced the number of teachers used for instruction for the entire district from 36 in 2010 to nearly one-third of that amount.

Claiming using Aventa was in violation of the union’s contract with Lawrence, the LTA filed a complaint in 2011 with the New York State Public Employment Relations Board.

Following a meeting with Administrative Law Judge Anglea M. Blassman and several meetings between the district and the LTA, a settlement was hammered out and then officially approved at the July 3 Board of Education meeting.

“The settlement states that Aventa may be used as instructional tool, but not as a course unto itself,” said LTA President Lori Skonberg, who emphasized that the complaint focused on the union not losing jobs to a computer program. “Therefore, the district maintains the ability to use the program in the classroom, and the LTA won’t lose any positions as a result. That sounds like a win-win to me.”

Lawrence Superintendent Gary Schall also described the agreement as a “win-win” because it combines both traditional teaching methods with contemporary instruction to improve student performance.

“The intent of the online instruction was never to reduce jobs though it has the potential to do so,” Schall said. “The design was very, very clear: using online instruction to enhance instruction as a means to break the cycle of failure.”

The agreement also takes into account the implementation of the recently created statewide Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) for teachers and principals. Accountable for the performance of the students in the classroom, the agreement, in accordance with state APPR guidelines, states that the teacher of record is responsible for the ultimate grading of the student.

Previously, Schall said he considered online learning an innovative component of modern education. The district began using Aventa for students who needed to take classes over or for those who missed school due to illness or injury. He noted his self-paid trip to Yuma, Az. to visit the Carpe Diem School, a tuition-free public school serving middle school and high school students, that offers online instruction along with persona help at student support centers. “This demonstrated to me where the world will be headed with online instruction,” said Schall, who added that it is inevitable and contractual arrangements must be worked out to explore the possibilities.

Currently this year’s summer school at Lawrence High School has approximately 80 students enrolled in math, science or English classes. There are six teachers. High school Principal Dr. Jennifer Lagnado said that this year’s summer school is different from last year. “We are going back to traditional instruction in an effort to raise our graduation rate,” Lagnado said, adding that online instruction will be used for educational enrichment purposes only.