This is an unprecedented situation and horrific times when we have to go through the process of laying off 160 teachers last night in attempt to partially balance a $49 million deficit. This is before the "next hit" that comes with the May Revise and the Legislative wrangling. We sincerely hope that we will be able to "bring back" some or all of these teachers based on retirements, moving out of the area, and general attrition. Our teachers and our staff are what we are about -- we are in the PEOPLE business. We hope that "early notice" assists in some small manner.
We have lost $66.3 million to operate RUSD over the past 8 years. We are losing $48.9 million for this coming school year (2010-11) for a total of $115+ million. Our broad-based Budget Advisory Committee is doing heroic work to find the least oppressive solutions -- but with these losses -- program, students, and schools cannot help but be impacted.
There has been talk of having "Open Enrollment" in our district. My understanding of this is that RUSD is allowing students from any area to attend any school that has availabilty. It is also my understanding that this is being done to save jobs by having students from other districts and across town attend our schools. I am strongly opposed to this as I pay A LOT of money in TAXES to fund schools that were just built.(I am TAXED more because of the area I chose to live in). It is unfair that students from other areas get to benefit off of my EXTRA TAXES. I am considering contacting an attorney to see what can be done in regards to this matter. This is NOT the way to balance our budget.
ReplyDeleteHas the Spanish version of this blog been updated recently? The most recent translation that I found was in early December.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand the need to close the smallest schools in RUSD.
RUSD doesn't know how to balance their budget.
ReplyDeleteI feel that it is a shame that performance cannot be a factor in the layoff decisions. There are a lot of young teachers who are excellent, and some tenured teachers who are not. There should be some way of preventing a "teacher of the year" from this year or last from receiving a pink slip. I know of at least one who has received it.
ReplyDeleteThat is because we have a bargaining unit that protects them. This is totally unfair!
ReplyDeleteDo we need a union that protects poor performing employees?
Let me make this clear, the union does not protect poor performing teachers. It does protect rights to a fair hearing to answer any charges that the District might make on an employee.
ReplyDeleteIf the District feels that a teacher is proforming less than expected, they should put concerns in writing and give assistance to the employee to improve before moving to dismissal. Many times an administrator does not follow this proceedure and will not do what is necessary to help teachers succeed. It may not be poor performing teachers, but poor performing administrators.