Teachers
Teacher Layoffs Could've Been Avoided
April 08 2009 10:37
The following links consist of a few headlines regarding teacher layoffs.
These layoffs could have been avoided if Democrats had voted with Republicans to give school districts more time to make teachers aware of their employment status.
State law requires notices go out by April 15.
The following news stories are more than likely just the beginning of Reduction-in-force (RIF) notices...
Gilbert School District votes to cut 400 teachers
TUSD Board approves layoffs for 605 workers, mostly teachers
Chino Valley sends out 227 RIF letters to employees
Peoria School District approves layoff of 300 teachers
Deer Valley Unified School District laying off 121 Employees
Dysart Unified School District to recommend elimination of 175 jobs
Queen Creek School Board approves cutting 35 teachers
34 teachers leaving Kingman Unified School District
Mayer School Board RIFs 8 employees
Mesa school jobs in ‘confusing’ limbo
Torren Eilhelmsen, a Desert Ridge High School student recently wrote a letter to the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board. The student’s experience is not unlike many of her counterparts in schools all across Arizona.
Eilhelmsen wrote, “I am very involved with student leadership. Specifically, I am part of the Principal's Advisory Council that helps deal with different issues at the school. This morning, April 6, 2009, students walked into class knowing something wasn't right. Then, when the bell rang, distraught first-year teachers gave their students the news that they very likely would not have a job with Gilbert Public School District next year. This announcement was made to them on Friday, April 3, 2009, after school. This announcement comes after Dr. Allison told the parents of the Parent Superintendent Council, that he and the governing board would do everything in their power not to cut teachers and increase class sizes. We all trusted that was what was to happen. Now, they have said that first year teachers may not get to teach with Gilbert Public Schools next year. This would raise the class size at Desert Ridge to approximately double the size of this year's classes. Now I ask you, are we supposed to still trust you when you tell us something? I find it hard to believe that there would be logic in that in the least amount. There are other things that can and should be cut long before it comes to teachers.”
These layoffs could have been avoided if Democrats had voted with Republicans to give school districts more time to make teachers aware of their employment status.
State law requires notices go out by April 15.
The following news stories are more than likely just the beginning of Reduction-in-force (RIF) notices...
Gilbert School District votes to cut 400 teachers
TUSD Board approves layoffs for 605 workers, mostly teachers
Chino Valley sends out 227 RIF letters to employees
Peoria School District approves layoff of 300 teachers
Deer Valley Unified School District laying off 121 Employees
Dysart Unified School District to recommend elimination of 175 jobs
Queen Creek School Board approves cutting 35 teachers
34 teachers leaving Kingman Unified School District
Mayer School Board RIFs 8 employees
Mesa school jobs in ‘confusing’ limbo
Torren Eilhelmsen, a Desert Ridge High School student recently wrote a letter to the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board. The student’s experience is not unlike many of her counterparts in schools all across Arizona.
Eilhelmsen wrote, “I am very involved with student leadership. Specifically, I am part of the Principal's Advisory Council that helps deal with different issues at the school. This morning, April 6, 2009, students walked into class knowing something wasn't right. Then, when the bell rang, distraught first-year teachers gave their students the news that they very likely would not have a job with Gilbert Public School District next year. This announcement was made to them on Friday, April 3, 2009, after school. This announcement comes after Dr. Allison told the parents of the Parent Superintendent Council, that he and the governing board would do everything in their power not to cut teachers and increase class sizes. We all trusted that was what was to happen. Now, they have said that first year teachers may not get to teach with Gilbert Public Schools next year. This would raise the class size at Desert Ridge to approximately double the size of this year's classes. Now I ask you, are we supposed to still trust you when you tell us something? I find it hard to believe that there would be logic in that in the least amount. There are other things that can and should be cut long before it comes to teachers.”
Democrats Side With Union Against Teachers
April 07 2009 16:10
By Andy Tobin
House Majority Whip
Instead of doing what’s right for teachers and students, the teachers union (Arizona Education Association) has decided politics are more important. This same teacher’s union colluded with the House Democrats to make sure school districts do not have the ability to have more time to notify teachers about whether or not they will be retained for the following school year.
The Democrats voted party line against HB2630 with the exception of one Democrat. This bill would have given school districts the time they needed to make teachers aware of their employment status and not frighten or lose good teachers because of unnecessary contract termination letters.
In March the Legislature attempted to pass HB2630, which would have extended the statutory teacher notification deadline for all Arizona school districts. The Republicans attempted, at the request of the Arizona School Boards Association, to give an emergency extension so school districts could finalize their budgets without frightening or losing good teachers with contract termination letters that were based on worst-case scenarios.
Unfortunately, the Arizona Education Association went against the school districts and convinced all but one of the House Democrats to vote ‘no’ on HB2630. Rep. Rae Waters voted with the Republicans on this issue. In addition to the 35 Republicans, five Democrats needed to vote ‘yes’ to pass the emergency measure. Instead, the Arizona Education Association and the Democrats decided to play political games with teachers’ livelihoods and killed the emergency measure.
- Click here to see Highlights of the HB2630 Debate
If you are truly concerned about the situation Arizona teachers are in, I suggest you contact your Democratic legislators and ask them why they voted to send layoff notices to teachers that may still have jobs.
You can find their contact information at this link.
House Majority Whip
Instead of doing what’s right for teachers and students, the teachers union (Arizona Education Association) has decided politics are more important. This same teacher’s union colluded with the House Democrats to make sure school districts do not have the ability to have more time to notify teachers about whether or not they will be retained for the following school year.
The Democrats voted party line against HB2630 with the exception of one Democrat. This bill would have given school districts the time they needed to make teachers aware of their employment status and not frighten or lose good teachers because of unnecessary contract termination letters.
In March the Legislature attempted to pass HB2630, which would have extended the statutory teacher notification deadline for all Arizona school districts. The Republicans attempted, at the request of the Arizona School Boards Association, to give an emergency extension so school districts could finalize their budgets without frightening or losing good teachers with contract termination letters that were based on worst-case scenarios.
Unfortunately, the Arizona Education Association went against the school districts and convinced all but one of the House Democrats to vote ‘no’ on HB2630. Rep. Rae Waters voted with the Republicans on this issue. In addition to the 35 Republicans, five Democrats needed to vote ‘yes’ to pass the emergency measure. Instead, the Arizona Education Association and the Democrats decided to play political games with teachers’ livelihoods and killed the emergency measure.
- Click here to see Highlights of the HB2630 Debate
If you are truly concerned about the situation Arizona teachers are in, I suggest you contact your Democratic legislators and ask them why they voted to send layoff notices to teachers that may still have jobs.
You can find their contact information at this link.