Weingarten proposes plan to overhaul teacher-dismissal process [New York Times, 2/25/11]: American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten announced a proposal to revamp methods for evaluating and dismissing teachers. The new plan would give tenured teachers with unsatisfactory ratings one year to improve or be fired within 100 days. However, some were critical of the proposal, saying that administrators would not have enough input and that it does not address the role of seniority in teacher layoffs.

Teacher Drug-Testing Policy Struck Down [School Law Blog, 2/24/11]: A Tennessee school district's program of random drug testing of its teachers was constitutionally flawed, a federal district court has ruled.

Patriotic T-shirt legal battle marches on [Morgan Hill Times / Gilroy Post-Dispatch, 2/21/11]: The First Amendment lawsuit over the Cinco de Mayo incident last year at Live Oak High School advanced after federal Judge James Ware refused to dismiss the case as requested by defendants the Morgan Hill Unified School District, former LOHS principal Nick Boden and former assistant principal Miguel Rodriguez.

Gender-equality lawsuit costly for Sweetwater District [San Diego Union Tribune, 2/23/11]: Superintendent Jesus Gandara asked trustees of the Sweetwater Union High School District approve an $800,000 increase to its legal services budget at the same time the South County school district is looking to close a $24 million shortfall in next year’s budget.

State teachers' pension system headed toward insolvency [San Jose Mercury News, 2/22/11]: As California school districts anticipate possibly the worst budget crisis in a generation, many will try to lighten their burden by enticing older teachers into retirement.

High Court Cases Focus on In-School Questionings [Education Week’s School Law blogger Mark Walsh, 2/22/11]: A pair of cases to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next month highlight broad questions about interactions between the police and the schools and the implications for school officials when investigators come knocking.

PERB: Poor Personnel Practices Do Not Prove Discrimination [PERB Blogspot, 2/15/11]: This case involved an employee who was rejected during probation. The employee alleged that he was rejected during probation because of protected activities, in violation of the MMBA. Specifically, the employee argued that the City retaliated against him because of comments he made criticizing his supervisor during an employee meeting. Read the City of Alhambra PERB Decision No. 2161-M (Issued 2/8/11).