More Teachers To Be Laid-Off?

Alabama Mobile Baldwin School officials to talk about that recommendation on Thursday.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Wed, April 22, 2009 - 8:50 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, April 22, 2009 - 9:44 pm CST

Teachers in one part of our area may be about to hear the word they hoped they would never hear: layoffs.
Thursday night, the Baldwin County School Board is scheduled to vote on laying off 192 teachers and 129 support workers.
Support workers include teacher aides and cafeteria workers.
Baldwin County School System Spokesperson Terry Wilhite said, "We've said from the very start that laying off employees was the measure of last resort and, here we are, the measure of last resort."
He said school board members may take final action on cutting more than 300 jobs at county schools at their board meeting at 6:30 pm Thursday at the Tharp Building in Bay Minette.
Wilhite said, "It's a historic number for the Baldwin County Public School System. We're talking close to 200 teachers losing jobs, we're talking about 130 to 140 support workers losing jobs."
School officials have to notify employees before the end of the school year if their contracts won't be renewed.
But the Alabama State Legislature still hasn't approved a budget yet for next year and, when it does, there could be some good news.
Wilhite said, "When the K-12 budget is passed, perhaps the dollars will be there to sustain or even re-hire some of the employees who have lost their jobs."
The school board is also expected to vote on a recommendation to close Vaughn Elementary School in Stockton.
Jessie Lee Ankum of Stockton said he went to Vaughn.
So did all of his children.
Ankum said, "I regret it that is closing because it was a school in the community that all the young children go to and attend."
He said the move will be difficult for parents who will have to send their children to Bay Minette some ten miles away.
Ankum said, "Most of them have to come so far, its going to be dark when they get here anyway so, really, its just an inconvenience for the ones who have to have a longer way (to go.)"

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Wait4Me Says:

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 6:00 am

What happened to the “steal-from-us” money that was supposed to stop this and save the jobs of teachers? Glad the teachers union was behind old BO, who knows how many would have lost their jobs if they weren’t. Look at the UAW, they supported old BO and now most of the members are going to be unemployed. Caterpillar according to BO was going to start hiring as soon as “a comprehensive stimulus package was signed” but they also just announced more lay-offs. So for all you BO supporters and union members tell me how this hope and change thing working for you?

MeAmerican Says:

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 4:31 am

Laid off? Just go ahead and fire the overpaid/underworked individuals. We want some freaking vouchers! Let us choose who teaches our children. Screw this public/govt. indoctrination.
Now that’s the kind of “Change” I can believe in. “Hope” You can too.