Idea of Trimming Teacher Training Days Withers

A push from school board member John de Beck to try to restore more instructional days by cutting back on scheduled training days for teachers died at the San Diego Unified school board tonight, with no support from anyone else on the board. The school district plans to shorten next school year by five days to help balance its budget, paying teachers for fewer days on the job. De Beck argued that replacing those training days with teaching time would be better for kids.

But the idea drew opposition. Jeannie Steeg, executive director of the union representing principals and other school managers, wrote an e-mail to the school board, arguing that the move would be a disservice to students “to not have teachers that should be life long learners!”

Because nobody seconded de Beck’s motion, the school board did not discuss it Tuesday night.

— EMILY ALPERT