news-record.com

Skip to the site menu
Skip to search

NEWS

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

More school layoffs loom; teachers shocked, angry

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
(Updated 1:38 pm)
By J. Brian Ewing
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — News this week that 160 more teachers could be laid off has left many educators scared, angry and asking “what next?”

“They’re just so shocked. This can’t have happened overnight,” said Victoria Wreden-Sadeq, a teacher with Guilford County Schools for nearly 20 years.

News of additional layoffs to cover a potential $40 million deficit hit teachers hard at Newcomers School, where Wreden-Sadeq teaches. Six of the school’s 18 teachers are among those being considered for cuts.

“They look dazed,” she said. “Some are crying.”

Newcomers principal Jake Henry said that while he will have to make cuts, he doesn’t think he’ll lose all those teachers.

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green announced Monday he will recommend the school board cut 145 to 150 positions by increasing class-size ratios, on average, by one student in next year’s budget.

Those reductions will come from the 578 interim teachers employed by the school system. Interim teachers include those who have not yet been licensed and are on annual contracts, as well visiting international faculty.

Green’s proposal also calls for laying off up to 13 elementary school foreign language teachers.

Teachers facing layoffs will be notified about their status during the next three weeks.

Green also is cutting 13 percent — about $20 million — from the central office budget. He said that will include cuts to expenses and staff but added it is too early to know how many employees that could entail.

“I believe, as this is showing, we are in the midst of an incredibly distressing economic environment and it’s affecting our schools and our students directly,” Green said.

Green’s proposal is on top of cuts he made a month ago that eliminated 375 positions. Many of those positions were vacant or filled by retiring staff. Most tenured teachers have found jobs within the school system.

There are no guarantees that this is the end. The legislature is continuing to wrestle with a budget deficit now topping $4.6 billion, and virtually no state agency or service is going to go unaffected.

Lawmakers’ proposed cuts to education make Green wonder if education really is a top priority in North Carolina. It’s a sentiment shared by others.

“It’s just devastating,” said Mark Jewell, president of the Guilford County Association of Educators. Jewell said teachers are scared and legislators need to find funding to support education.

Margaret Arbuckle, Guilford County Education Alliance executive director, said if that means raising local and state taxes then she believes the public will support it.

“My thinking is the public is willing to pay more to support public education,” she said.

Arbuckle’s group works with local businesses to support additional enrichment programs and initiatives. They do so, she said, because they understand how important education is to community growth and development.

“You decimate public education in North Carolina, you decimate economic development for future generations,” she said.

Jim Melvin, president of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, said his and other local non-profits will need to meet with school officials to see what support they could lend. That could mean additional funding support, Melvin said, but it likely will be difficult because charitable organizations are not immune to the economy either.

“We’re going to have to work harder,” Melvin said.

It’s a promise school board Chairman Alan Duncan is making. Duncan said despite the cuts, teachers continue to persevere, providing the best education they can.

“Our employees have done a wonderful job of working through this despite how painful it’s been for many of them and we support them,” he said.

Duncan urged parents and everyone else concerned about the cuts to let legislators know how they feel.

He isn’t the only one advocating. Groups are organizing across the county and state to go to Raleigh to lobby lawmakers to find funding to keep the jobs.

Parents across the county received e-mails and phone calls from principals Tuesday outlining the issues. Green said principals were advised to make the calls but said they were told not to weigh in on the issue.

The budget crisis also has moved up Green’s review of school programs and their costs.

Shortly after unveiling his strategic plan for the school system earlier this year, Green said he would spend a year reviewing the system’s programs looking for areas to cut.

Green said he could now make those recommendations as early as this month.

 

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Margaret Baxter (News & Record)

Update

What’s new: Guilford County Schools is laying off more than 160 teachers, increasing class sizes and cutting about $20 million from a central administration budget, which could include additional layoffs.

Why the cuts?: The district faces a potential $40 million budget shortfall in the coming year.

What’s next: The Board of Education will consider the budget cuts later this month.

Cutting back

March 9: Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green proposes reducing 14 middle school computer curriculum support jobs to five.

March 26: Green announces more position reductions, including 64 library assistants, 7.5 English as a Second Language jobs and 7.5 high school testing coordinator jobs.

April 7: Green proposes budget that includes 18 additional administrative job cuts.

May 5: Principals propose cutting 223 more teaching positions.

June 1: Green announces more than 160 teacher layoffs, including about 150 interim teachers and 12 foreign language teachers. Also proposes cutting administration budget by about $20 million, which could include more layoffs.

Comments

This article has been closed to new comments. Comments are generally closed after 14 days. However, comments may be closed earlier at the discretion of the News & Record.

Inappropriate content? Please notify us.

dfayers

June 2, 2009 - 10:34 am EDT

The state is not bringing in enough revenue to meet payroll demands. Somebody has to make a tough decision to bring in more revenue. Our children shouldn't have to suffer the consequences of bad policy.

weatherman

June 2, 2009 - 10:37 am EDT

FYI- This round of job cuts is for teachers directly. Many of which teach core courses. The people making these decisions are not teaching and are very disconnected from what goes on in schools on a daily basis.

Joseph12

June 2, 2009 - 10:57 am EDT

The Guilford County Schools are both understaffed and underfunded now. Further cuts are an outrage. Some years ago a member of the Isreali Parliament rose and said," Israel spends more on each pupil than any nation in the world" The response? The entire parliament, every member, stood and cheered. We here in North Carolina do not value our schools. We think we save money by failing to provide our children the highest possible quality of education. We are deceiving ourselves. The cuts will cost us dearly for years and years to come. The costs will be greatest for those with least, but also for all of us. The public needs to stand up and demand that Dr. Green and the Boards of Education, and Commissioners do their jobs -- provide for the welfare of children and other citizens. We must not allow the self-inflicted destruction of our schools. If you doubt the coming disaster, visit some schools, talk to teachers and administrators, see quidance counselors who try to serve 1000 kids each, see how secure our schools are with so few administrators, compare our teachers" salaries with the really fine public systems in the nation, and check the result compared to really fine public school systems. Don't impoverish our schools and deny the aspirations of our children. North Carolina can and must do better. Where our leaders pander to taxpapyers with false savings, the public must provide the courage to do the right thing. Where's the outrage? Where's the support for children and community?

Panacea

June 2, 2009 - 12:20 pm EDT

Yeah, but then Skip Alston and Steve Arnold would have to pay more property tax. We can't have that.

Besides, the more uneducated graduates we have, the more future tenants for the slum lords.

Get A Clue

June 2, 2009 - 10:57 am EDT

You will reap what you sow.
No more, no less.

DexterG

June 2, 2009 - 10:59 am EDT

Whatever you do, please don't cut administrators!!! Especially the new regional administrators! Those poor souls have vacation properties and fancy cars to pay for. They shouldn't have to share the pain with everyone else. Pass the cuts down to the people actually doing the educating. Schools don't need them anyway.

dcolin

June 2, 2009 - 1:33 pm EDT

They actually have a Director of Virtual Education.

Everything else is commentary.

in the schools

June 2, 2009 - 4:22 pm EDT

Virtual Learning is probably one of the few tools that GCS has that actually provides opportunities for ALL students K-12 and all academic abilities. Any computer based learning that happens in the school falls under the Director of Virtual Learning among other things. You lose virtual learning, you lose your elementary reading tools, your middle school remediation and study aid your high school Physics EOC, your opportunity to recover failed classes which means you lose your graduation rate and increase your dropout rate, you lose summer school, you lose UNCG iSchool which provides high school and college credit by taking a course at UNCG, you lose the opportunity for kids to take courses not offered by GCS, et cetera as well as the new program GEMS used by staff to collaborate on lesson planning, pacing guides and other day to day classroom activities.

dcolin

June 2, 2009 - 8:23 pm EDT

"computer based learning"

It's a myth that is lining the pockets of suppliers.
For K-12 education it will do what the hand held calculator did for many students understanding of
arithmetic. It's a lost art. Along with the math to follow.

Many students actually cannot work with single digit numbers without their calculator.
Worse than that, they can't tell when they have an incorrect answer that is off by orders of magnitude.
They simply say the calculator says it is correct.

All these tools make the teachers life easier and remove the teacher further and further from getting
the opportunity to understand what is going on in the students head. Thats what is critical.
Multiple choice and final answers is a waste of time. You must see the process.

I once had a principal tell me that computer technology was critical to education.
When I simply asked why.
His answer was "because we got a grant". Honestly I kid you not.

Besides that the first people let go are those that set up/maintain the equipment/train users etc.

Have you ever seen a group of teachers trying to make the systems work.
It's quite a sight.

Half the class time is spent screwing with the equipment.

mike_gso

June 2, 2009 - 7:54 pm EDT

Virtual learning can be used to actually save money. It's a tool that offers students many opportunities to take courses outside of the traditional classroom setting. Let's not look down our noses at a great program that offers students both high school and college credits, not to mention the ability to recover credit when they were previously unsuccessful in the classroom with a teacher. Virtual learning is an important tool of the future regarding schools and what learning environments will look like. I wish they had virtual learning when my daughter was in school. At least she wouldn't have to sit in a classroom full of disrespectful students, had she a second option!

passionforteaching

June 3, 2009 - 11:30 am EDT

The new superintendent positons have been the topic of conversation for me and my fellow educators. How can you justify creating six 6-figure salary positions with one hand and cut classroom teachers with the other hand? Many of the schools with the high percentage of interim and non-tenured teachers are high priority, at-risk schools that need every teacher they have and more.

If the situation is as dire as being indicated, how can we proceed with the multi-million dollar expansions scheduled? Moreover, how can we justify operating schools that have 100 or less students that have a full administrative and support staff and require significant increases in county transportation expenditures because these children go to school at alternate start times? Why can't these alternative schools be added to existing schools and become schools within schools?

Huck9

June 2, 2009 - 11:07 am EDT

If all the GCS employees who make over $100K a year would sacrifice and take a 20% cut and top administrative vacancies are not filled, all these teachers jobs could probably be saved. GCS can save a million dollars by just not filling the positions of those who are retiring are just moving on.

Panacea

June 2, 2009 - 12:21 pm EDT

Very few GCS employees make over 100K per year. Administrators, not teachers, make that much.

rfisher

June 2, 2009 - 3:27 pm EDT

Not a bad idea to not fill retiring teacher positions if possible. Of course I dont want to see over burdened classrooms, but if GCS looks at this as an option, maybe it will save the jobs of current teachers and help our students.

Panacea

June 2, 2009 - 3:50 pm EDT

I think they're already doing that, actually.

in the schools

June 2, 2009 - 4:56 pm EDT

It is my understanding that several of the "interim" positions not being renewed are those retired teachers who are double dipping for a half day or whatever. However, I'm pretty sure the majority of them are lateral entry teachers and other fully certified teachers, counselors, etc who were hired mid-year.

Norm*

June 2, 2009 - 11:09 am EDT

How about if they only re-retire teachers who are double dipping? You know, pension+ full pay with 30 years longevity. They at least won't be hurt as badly and if their hearts are in it, they can come back and volunteer.

craig

June 2, 2009 - 11:11 am EDT

Heaven forbid that are over worked administrators should have to teach one or two classes or grade papers or simply interact with students. Maybe if we have enough cuts to our teachers then administrators will be forced to stand and be held accountable. I hope our students have short memories and don't hold this against us when we're old and feeble and need them to take care of us! We certainly have'nt given them a very good example to go by. Shame on the bureucracy.

barbati

June 2, 2009 - 11:32 am EDT

I would be willing to pay a modest tax increase if I could be sure the commissioners would use it for the school system.

america

June 3, 2009 - 9:12 am EDT

Sadly, state and county laws don't allow for tax monies to be devoted to one entity. The county commissioners tried this by offering a guarantee to the voters that an additional 1/4 cent sales tax would go directly to school construction, but the voters said "no". I wouldn't offer to pay any tax increase in Guilford County. It will never make it to the classroom. It will simply fund pet projects with no accountability.

snowman

June 2, 2009 - 11:59 am EDT

This is a SAD day for our children. We continue to pay outragous salaries. We continue to hire umteen people for the same positions. Why does it take some many people to do the same job in the home office? Why do we need 3 or 4 principals in Middle and High School? Why can't jobs be combined at the home office and school level? Magnet Schools are great, but transportation is killing us. How much does it cost for buses to run for one day? How much do we spend on EOG test? Maybe we should consider a longer day and shorter week for our children. Change from having to attend 180 days to requiring certain number of hours needed each school year.

BUT PLEASE, WHATEVER IS DECIDED WITH THE CUTS, PLEASE FIX HUNTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THESE KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THESE CONDITIONS.

Panacea

June 2, 2009 - 12:22 pm EDT

The last day of school is June 15th. A MONDAY. How much money are we wasting to keep the school air conditioned over the weekend for ONE day of school, where the kids won't do any learning? What a WASTE!

snowman

June 2, 2009 - 2:28 pm EDT

How true. Not just that, but the bus expense as well.
My children aren't going that day, we are leaving for the beach on Saturday for the week.

crazy

June 2, 2009 - 12:31 pm EDT

Judging by what we read in the paper yesterday about the performance of GCS don't you think its time for some radical changes? Are county-wide districts a good thing, even with our regional districts? Call me Crazy, but what would happen if we didn't have public education? What if it was just left to private schools? Give scholarships to the kids who need them, students might take responsibility and ownership of their own education. Behavior problems? Not if they have some investment into their education.

Obviously this will not happen, I'm just saying...

Panacea

June 2, 2009 - 3:53 pm EDT

Private schools don't HAVE to accept every student who applies. If we got rid of public education, many children would get no education at all, have no opportunity for an education at all. Education would be the priviledge of the elite. That's not the way we want to go.

I would, however, agree that HOW we run and finance public education needs radical change. I was never much of one for vouchers before, but I am beginning to think it might be an answer. Charter schools certainly have appeal, most are well run.

mamaboilermaker

June 3, 2009 - 10:40 am EDT

Apparently many children in public schools are already getting no education at all, judging from the results in terms of college or job readiness. A home school parent can accomplish in hours what the schools accomplish in weeks, because they are not hampered by hours of useless government paperwork, sensitivity seminars, violent children, tests-tests-tests, colorful-but-dumbed-down textbooks, useless bureaucrats second-guessing their every move......and private schools would be more affordable if the public system were not sucking so much money out of the people. Just give each parent half the amount spent per pupil by the public system and private schools would spring up everywhere to serve those parents. More gifted people would become teachers because they could be working for intelligent life forms like themselves instead of unthinking career bureaucrats. Yes, some parents would waste the money--but would that be worse than having the government waste it? Waste is waste.

in the schools

June 4, 2009 - 5:29 pm EDT

The benefits you perceive from private schools exist because of their separation from public school laws, regulations and political decision making. That makes it a privilege to attend and privileges can be taken away which eliminates a large portion of the student behavior and achievement issues many on this blog blame on poor teaching. However, if you remove the public schools and use the government to provide opportunity for all students to attend private school, guess what, it’s not private anymore and the government and political powers have the control making it once again public. Private schools aren’t the answer; better public schools are.

william1944

June 2, 2009 - 1:10 pm EDT

Until the General Assembly gives the school system adequate autonomy over the students and the parents, there will be no improvement in the present untenable situation in our schools. School personnel cannot now enforce discipline for the students and the parents who constantly threaten the teachers with physical violence and lawsuits.
Giving them more money is more money down a rat hole.

Laura

June 2, 2009 - 1:18 pm EDT

This is appalling. Laying off teachers is like spending your capital. It's like American society is eating its own young! Why don't schools temporarily eliminate extra-curricular sports until the economic situation improves, starting with the most expensive programs first?

Sports are fun and even somewhat educational in a limited way, but they are not essential to our future. Laying off teachers should be the absolute last option on the table. Now that parents don't even want to raise their own kids anymore, teachers and schools, flawed though they may be, are the backbone of our society.

snowman

June 2, 2009 - 2:42 pm EDT

Sports are a needed item in school. I think that the program needs to be revamped, as far as to who pays for what. Just like music, if you child plays an instrument then you must buy that instrument. But then in sports it's going to come down to the fact that GCS is descrimating on low-income families. But you know sometime in life you must wake up and realize that you have to pay your way thru life. Everything is not free. The sooner everyone realizes this the better off we will be.

I for one think that we need to do away with the encore classes in middle school. In middle school we need only the basic classes, English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, Health, & PE daily.

123next ›last »

eMail Updates

Learn More
Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Featured Ads

Search

Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Advertisement | Advertise with Us

News & Record Network Sites

Triad Weather

  • Current Condition: LIGHT RAIN
  • Current Temperature: 50°
  • UV Idx: 0
  • Forecast High/Low: H: 54° L: 46°

User Tools

  • Social Networking
  • RSS
  • Share
  • Sign in to MyNR

Search