BY OLYMPIA MEOLA

After undergoing significant alterations, Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposed overhaul of the public school teacher evaluation system stalled Thursday evening in subcommittee on a legal issue.

The governor is proposing shifting teachers away from continuing contracts. The original legislation moved teachers to an annual contract after a probation period.

The latest version of the plan, unveiled Thursday, would place teachers on three-year term contracts.

Teachers, assistant principals and principals would be considered probationary for five years with annual evaluations before moving to a three-year term contract. The term contract would not automatically renew. 

After an hour and a half discussion, the subcommittee carried the bill over to its meeting next week because members wanted details on how the changes could affect teachers currently on three-year continuing contracts – and whether they can even be switched to term contracts under law.

Del. James M. LeMunyon, R-Fairfax, the subcommittee chairman, said he was uncomfortable voting on the bill until the point’s clarified and urged the governor’s office to consult with the attorney general’s office.

“I’m going to run into … teachers in a supermarket and they’re going to say, ‘Well, that bill you voted on Jim, does that grandfather the continuing contract people in or not?’ And if I say I don’t know, or somebody’s going to figure it out down the road, they ought to fire me on Election Day.”