Hundreds Layed From Dallas School District; Teachers Protest

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

Make that "Hundreds Layed Off From Dallas..."



The layoffs have begun in the Dallas school district.

At least 160 central staff positions – from switchboard operators to administrators – were eliminated Monday, for a projected savings of up to $3.6 million, district officials said. More than half the positions were vacant, but 63 were filled, and those employees got pink slips Monday

The cuts are part of the Dallas Independent School District's effort to fix an expected $84 million budget shortfall this fiscal year.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has recommended that the district eliminate 1,209 positions – 675 of which are for teachers – and make other cuts to help close the budget gap.


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/093008dnmetdisdcuts.17573f0.html



Hundreds of teachers wearing red T-shirts filled school board chambers Thursday and surrounded Dallas ISD headquarters to protest the vote that will lead to hundreds of teacher layoffs.

All were left wondering whether they will be among those to lose their jobs.

"We are in shock," said Diana Stansberry, who teaches at Kimball High School. "We don't know where this is going."


Dallas Morning News Story (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/dallas/stories/DN-disdreax_03met.ART.State.Edition1.26aeefc.html)

[Faux Real]

Wow that's awful. A year ago that happened in my city and the protest worked; they stopped the additional layoffs. Hopefully these will win out as well.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

I could see where they would want to cut bad teachers, but there's a better solution to cherry-picking around with decent ones: stop overfunding athletics. Let kids play for the next year or two - maybe set up some deals with neighboring districts, but cut the program entirely after that point. A combination of culling out bad teachers and expensive sports programs could save close to $50 million, methinks. (I live near Dallas)

They could also (gasp) stop the stupid school board system entirely and democratize schools. How much money do they make, I wonder? Probably six digits.

[Plagueround]

I could see where they would want to cut bad teachers, but there's a better solution to cherry-picking around with decent ones: stop overfunding athletics.


Hey, giving a losing team new uniforms every year while our textbooks still have the USSR in them and the band gets enough money for a tuba every 10 years is the American way! :laugh:

[Bud Struggle]

I could see where they would want to cut bad teachers, but there's a better solution to cherry-picking around with decent ones: stop overfunding athletics. Let kids play for the next year or two - maybe set up some deals with neighboring districts, but cut the program entirely after that point. A combination of culling out bad teachers and expensive sports programs could save close to $50 million, methinks. (I live near Dallas)

They could also (gasp) stop the stupid school board system entirely and democratize schools. How much money do they make, I wonder? Probably six digits.


Here in sunny Florida the the top paid government employees are the Football coaches. Here's an interesting article--they seem to make money here--but in most places they don't. I'm in total agreement with Gene on this one.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2007/12/16/m1a_GATOR_ECON_1216.html

[Dust Bunnies]

It is disgusting the state of our schools, even private schools.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

Here in sunny Florida the the top paid government employees are the Football coaches. Here's an interesting article--they seem to make money here--but in most places they don't. I'm in total agreement with Gene on this one.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2007/12/16/m1a_GATOR_ECON_1216.html

Ever been to Texas?

http://www.berrycenter.net/pics/stadiumpics2.jpg

http://lonestartimes.com/images/2006/10/basketball%20berry%20center.jpg

The Berry Center, Houston, TX.

$79.2 Million

[Schrödinger's Cat]

I can attest to the lopsidedness in Texas. My district is one of the best in the country - it outperforms the private schools - but there is just way too much meat on athletics. And I'm speaking as a former football/track athlete. We were running out of space for classrooms, and there was a shortage of funds on paper, but we're getting a new gym and stadium after a new field was created only five years ago. I mean don't get me wrong, these players need not be forgotten, but what about artists?

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

I can attest to the lopsidedness in Texas. My district is one of the best in the country - it outperforms the private schools - but there is just way too much meat on athletics. And I'm speaking as a former football/track athlete. We were running out of space for classrooms, and there was a shortage of funds on paper, but we're getting a new gym and stadium after a new field was created only five years ago. I mean don't get me wrong, these players need not be forgotten, but what about artists?


I find it absoultely astounding that $20,000,000+ sports facilities are begining to be the norm, at least outside of the inner-city, while there is still so much lacking in the academic part of the school.

[Killfacer]

does the government pay for all these huge stadiums?