Back to SBEC Board Meeting Highlights
For Educators Targeted for Disciplinary Actions
Teacher Groups Throw Cold Water on Idea
Of SBEC Moving to Email Notifications
A staff proposal that SBEC consider adopting a rule to allow educators targeted for disciplinary investigations, proceedings and/or sanctions to be notified by email in some instances instead of always being notified by “snail mail” drew vigorous opposition in virtual testimony from all four of the state’s major teacher groups. (agenda/webcast-click Item 15)
Teacher group representatives testified they preferred that SBEC continue to send out the notices via snail mail, or at the minimum, send an email in conjunction with snail mail. They pointed out that email is an easily overlooked medium, subject to spam filters, work email addresses being closed and/or not always checked.
“Many individuals do not check their personal email often, especially with the plethora of other communication platforms being used and the volume of such messages they may receive,” Association of Texas Professional Educators lobbyist Andrea Chevalier told the board (written testimony here).
Staff said they routinely send 7,000 pieces of “regular” and “certified” snail mail each year in investigations and disciplinary cases at a cost of about $28,000.
The current rules require SBEC to keep sending notices by snail mail even to addresses in which they know are incorrect because the mail has been returned by the Post Office as undeliverable.
The staff proposal would allow, depending on the circumstances, for an educator to be notified either by snail mail or email, or both (as summarized in these slides).
The item is expected to return to the board at a later date.