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By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of The Oakland Press

State Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, is pushing for legislation that would make teachers' jobs in Michigan dependent on how well their students do in the classroom. 

Melton also is continuing his efforts to bring about consolidation of some school districts and services across the state to help financially struggling districts become more efficient.

Rosemary Carey, communications consultant for the state MEA office, said: "Our concern is that we'd be basing someone's performance on factors that can't be controlled.

"We are certainly not saying test scores can't be used but .... we don't know whether a student got a decent breakfast or experienced some kind of situation at home before taking the tests," Carey said. 

"Our teachers do the best they can and move the children forward," she continued, objecting to basing a teacher's livelihood on factors they can't control.

"We are concerned over that percentage." Carey said. "It is using an arbitrary number of 50 percent and not looking at the total picture."

Melton said the bill introduced last year was passed by the Senate and is now in the House, where it will probably go to the Education Committee. Melton is no longer chair of that committee but is still interested in working with education reform. One of his committees deals with government regulations so some reform can come out of that committee as well, he said.

Melton said he recommended teacher evaluation be based on several examinations so the MEAP tests won't the only measure. Local assessments will be more important, he said. 

But those opposing to basing evaluations on how children do in the classroom should know "that is the major thing teachers do," Melton said.

He said things such as student attendance and its affect on achievement would be taken into consideration.

The Michigan system would be similar to one passed in Colorado last year. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed one of the most aggressive education reform bills in the country. The law makes job security for teachers dependent on the performance of their students.

A bill to consolidate school districts and services was introduced in the House last session and is waiting for a hearing date. If passed, the state would set up a 13-member commission that would evaluate all districts and make recommendations on where consolidation would work best.

Melton also has introduced a bill that would put all public employees in the same health care pool. Employees who wanted a different plan could pay the extra money. 

Contact staff writer Diana Dillaber Murray at 248-745-4638, e-mail diana.dillaber@oakpress.com or follow her on Twitter @DDillybar.