“A Lot” Of Teacher Jobs In Mobile Apparently Saved

Alabama Baldwin County Superintendents and school board members meet with state schools superintendent.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Mon, March 23, 2009 - 9:44 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, March 23, 2009 - 9:57 pm CST

There was encouraging news Monday night about President Obama's stimulus plan saving teacher jobs in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
School leaders from around Alabama met with the state schools superintendent in Montgomery Monday.
Mobile School Superintendent Roy Nichols and school board member Judy Stout were among those attending the meeting.
When asked if it looks as if teacher jobs in Mobile will be saved, Stout said, "A lot of them, most of them I would say."
But Stout said Mobile school officials don't know how many just yet.
She said they might not know until state officials announce how much stimulus money will be going to each county.
However, just two months ago, Nichols had said up to 800 teachers and staff members in Mobile alone might have to be laid off before next school year began.
Now, that may be the number for the whole state.
Stout said, "They (state officials) had projected close to 3900 lost across the state and now they'll be able to cut that way back to maybe 600 or 700 lost across the state."
Baldwin County School Superintendent Faron Hollinger went to the meeting, too.
He said he hopes Monday's announcement means mass layoffs in Baldwin will be completely avoided.
And State Schools Superintendent Joe Morton sounded optimistic about the future.
Morton said, "Its not going to be the easiest thing we've ever done, but it could end up being one of the more positive experiences that we've all dealt with."
But Stout said that doesn't necessarily mean those four schools Superintendent Nichols proposed closing will stay open.
Stout said, "The closing of schools are up to us (school board members) as to how we juggle the budget."
Mobile school leaders hope that state officials will announce how much stimulus money is coming to individual counties at regional meetings that start Wednesday.

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SumOneILove Says:

Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 7:23 am

This type of situations discourages people from becoming a teacher. I guess all people wonder whether or not they will have a job from one day to the next. If politicians would spend money the right way we would be a very wealthy and healthy nation.