BY OLYMPIA MEOLA

A McDonnell-backed proposed overhaul of the contract and evaluation system for the state’s public school teachers and principals — essentially phasing out a tenure-like system for term contracts — passed a key Senate committee today after first being killed.

The measure, opposed by the state’s teachers association, was defeated in the Republican-controlled Senate Education and Health Committee this morning but was reconsidered and later passed 8-7 by the panel.

The action came the day after McDonnell held a tele-town hall with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to urge people to call their state lawmaker and advocate for his education agenda, including this teacher contract proposal.

McDonnell said he expected some of the votes to be close — particularly in the Senate.

Bush founded the Foundation for Excellence in Education.

The teacher contract plan has undergone major alterations from the original proposal to institute annual contracts and evaluations, to a plan that would allow teachers currently on continuing contracts to keep them. 

Under the latest version, teachers who are not eligible for a continuing contract by the 2013-14 school year would receive a three-year term contract, which would not automatically renew.

The Republican-controlled House Education Committee passed a version of the plan on Wednesday, but amended it to allow teachers with continuing contracts to keep them even if they switch school divisions.

The bill cleared that panel despite lingering questions from lawmakers and a request from a Republican lawmaker that the bill’s proponents work with stakeholders “related to clarifying how this bill will operate in the real world and making sure there are not unintended consequences.”

The Senate bill, carried by Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, does not have that same provision to allow teachers to keep the contract if they move to a different system.

Both measures would extend the probation period for teachers and principals to five years before they receive a three-year contract. Employees would have annual evaluations.

Roughly 90 percent of the 100,000 public school teachers in the state have a continuing contract and would keep them.