52 different tests to judge teacher effectiveness?

It has come to this. A superintendent unveils his 1.1 billion dollar spending plan.  And it includes a range of 52 tests to judge teacher effectiveness.

Why waste that much money, especially when the school district already has to cut teachers because they are over 100 million dollars in the hole?  That's right.  One hundred million in the hole.  Yet, they are somehow going to come up with a billion to spend?

Where they hell did they learn math?

Why waste the money indeed when all you need to do to judge effective teaching is to watch any teacher in a number of the classes they teach - some observations should be planned, but most should be impromptu.  Then talk to the students.  Then talk to the parents.  How hard is that?

I like what one teacher had to say --

Retired science teacher John Mock said that, in its quest to grade teachers on a more businesslike model, the board has alienated its workforce and frustrated parents.

He asked board members: "Just whose business model are you using? Enron?"