Gov. Brown’s veto means it will remain difficult to fire teachers who abuse students

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Jerry Brown apparently isn’t very concerned about rampant sexual abuse of students in the state’s schools.

Brown's vetoLast week, he vetoed a bill that would have streamlined the process for terminating teachers accused of sexual misconduct with students, as well as other violent and drug-related offenses. He contends the new teacher dismissal process outlined in Assembly Bill 375 is “too rigid” and could “create new problems,” according to the Sacramento Bee.

“I share the author’s desire to streamline the teacher discipline process,” he wrote in a veto message, “but this bill is an imperfect solution.”

AB 375 is a watered down version of legislation introduced last year by Democratic state Sen. Alex Padilla, which died in committee due to intense lobbying by the California Teachers Association. The CTA reluctantly supported AB 375 because of its tamer provisions, but likely counted on Brown rejecting the bill.

The problem is that union contracts and state law proscribe a lengthy and expensive process for teachers accused of misdeeds to appeal their terminations, even in extreme cases like sexual assault on a student or selling drugs at school.  (more...)

Gov. Brown’s veto means it will remain difficult to fire teachers who abuse students