What makes a school hard to staff?

Let’s not talk about reality, but about categories. Because teachers who teach at “hard to staff schools” in NYC are eligible for certain financial considerations. (tuition assistance and/or student loan forgiveness, I think).

Let’s talk about Herbert H Lehman High School, straddling the Hutchinson River Parkway, in the east Bronx. Whether or not Lehman is in reality “hard to staff,” it is not designated “hard to staff,” so its teachers are not eligible for these incentive programs. Years ago it was on the list, now it’s off the list, and no one who I know can tell me how or why.

One school, not hard to staff? No tuition help for teachers
Same school, struggling? The new principal gets $25k

Where’s this designation come from? Beats me. I am not even certain if it is “hard to staff” or “high need” or “program eligible” But does it seem arbitrary? It does. Probably, when we learn more, we will find that it seems arbitrary because it is in fact arbitrary, but let’s wait for more information.

“Jonathan,” you might ask me, “you are blogging about the NYCDoE being arbitrary? That’s hardly news.” And you would be right. But read on.

(more —>)

There is also a parallel “hard to staff”-type designation for administrators. And Lehman is getting a new principal (Bob Leder is being forced to retire. Dinosaur pushed out of his fiefdom. It deserves a whole nother post). And this principal is getting a $25,000 bonus for leading a “struggling school.” Huh?

It’s easy to staff, so teachers are arbitrarily denied help with tuition towards their Masters, but it’s struggling, so this novice principal gets a para’s salary in her pocket just for taking the job?

edit to add NYDN link, quote: There is also a story in the NY Daily News with more detail than the Post article. Particularly telling is the quote from a UFT representative:

“I thought this $25,000 would be for principals who agreed to go into schools that were having difficulties. I didn’t think they meant political difficulties.”

h/t to nyc ed for linking the post article.
nother h/t to teachers at HHLHS for looking for answers and looking for fairness.