Teacher Cuts May Not Be As Bad As Thought

Alabama Mobile Mobile's school superintendent said economic stimulus package should help.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Thu, February 19, 2009 - 10:19 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, February 19, 2009 - 10:32 pm CST

The stimulus package approved by Congress is bringing some good news for Mobile school teachers.
Last month, Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols said economic cutbacks could force as many as 800 teachers and staff members to lose their jobs before the next school year begins.
Now that the package has passed, the news is much better.
Dr. Nichols said, "I would hope that we could get it (the number of cuts) down to zero. I don't think that we can, but it will be as close to zero as possible."
Nichols said he's scheduled to meet with the state superintendent March 23 to find out exactly how much money Mobile schools will get from the stimulus package.
Nichols said, "Someone from Washington who knows how this money is supposed to be spent will be there."
But since he doesn't know yet how much federal money schools will get, Nichols said by law he's going have to send notices by the end of this month to about 36 principals who's contracts are about to expire telling them they're being terminated.
However, Nichols said, "We'll probably hire every one of them back, but, just to be on the safe side, we are going to be sending those termination notices."
Mobile teacher union leaders are hoping for the best with the stimulus package.
Wade Perry with the Mobile County Education Association said, "It would be fantastic. We really can't take any more cuts to public education here in Mobile County."
Nichols also said, "The intent of the federal legislation is to roll the school funding all the way back to what it was in the 2008 fiscal year. If that happens, then we'll be okay."
School officials also said Thursday night they hope to begin next school year on August 10, 2009 and end it on May 25, 2010, but that depends on a federal law being waived.

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