Statement by NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento On State Teacher Evaluation Agreement

ALBANY, NY (02/17/2012)(readMedia)-- I commend NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, his members, and Governor Andrew Cuomo, for reaching agreement on teacher evaluations. Clearly this was not easy, but this agreement demonstrates that even the most difficult challenges can be overcome through good faith negotiations. This is a prime example of labor-management partnership to get things done.

I also applaud UFT President Michael Mulgrew, who with the leadership of Governor Cuomo, successfully reached an agreement on an appeals process. The City must drop its insistence on school closures so that we can move forward once and for all.

No one cares more about the achievement of students than the teachers who dedicate their careers to educating our children. Now with the issue of teacher evaluations resolved at the state level, we must ensure that New York provides our teachers the support and resources necessary to do their jobs.