April 5, 2011

Pamela Grundy, right, and Carol Sawyer from Mecklenburg Acts made a presentation to the Forum Tuesday on CMS's pay-for-performance play.

Grundy said other cities have abandoned such plans when they did not improve student achievement.

The additional tests required by the plan, Grundy said, would further increase pressure to teach the content of the tests. She also suggested that additional tests will increase teacher turnover.

"I see good teachers leaving, teachers who are fed up with all of this." Parents, too, are considering leaving, she said.

"Our real concern � is that we see it as detrimental to our school system because it will drive away teachers and drive away families."

She said money should instead be spent on keeping classes small.

A petition on the Mecklenburg Acts website has drawn 1,000 signatures, Grundy said.

"We see this as something the public needs to stand up about. It's very difficult for teachers to stand up."

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