The strictures of state licensing requirements in New York seem to be causing both confusion and anger. In New York City, 25 out of the 113 Local Instructional Superintendents (LISs, or “lizards” behind their backs) are still lacking the required state certification needed to hold their posts. Nevertheless, the delinquency of 22% of the superintendents is not worrying NYC schools chancellor Joel Klein even though the principals’ union, the Council of Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), has given notebooks to chronicle all interactions with uncertified superintendents, presumably in anticipation of grievances to be filed.
While school leadership remains one locus of contention, teachers are fighting mad. Over 3,000 public school teachers failed New York’s Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) and Klein, true to his word, fired them.