259 Teaching Positions Could Be Cut In Mobile

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By Steve Alexander Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr 259 Teaching Positions Could Be Cut In Mobile

Published: Wed, April 16, 2008 - 7:47 pm

Steve Alexander

Mobile County School Board members are set to talk about a proposal Thursday afternoon that could mean about 259 teaching positions being cut.
The proposal by Superintendent Roy Nichols could also mean cutting central office positions totaling $3.5 Million in salaries.
However, interim deputy superintendent Martha Peek says the teacher position cutbacks don't necessarily mean teachers now in the classroom will be out of a job.
She says, "During the school year, we usually have attrition of about 200 people: that's retirement, people moving, people deciding to change occupations. We're hoping that a lot of those positions that are listed as teacher positions will just be (eliminated) by attrition."
Danny Goodwin with the Mobile County Education Association acknowledges the system has to find ways to cut money.
But he says the cuts mean class sizes will be bigger.
He says, "It means there are fewer teachers and para-professionals to work directly with the students."
But Peek believes the education program in Mobile will continue to move forward.
She says, "There will be very little difference that people will see with the way the instructional program moves on in the Mobile County Public School System."
The proposal also cuts some programs like the Maysville/Mobile Math Initiative.
The school board meets for a work session at 1 pm Thursday afternoon at the Central Office Board Room.
At the earliest, board members won't take formal votes until next Tuesday at their regular board meeting.

173.5 locally funded teacher units, $9.1 million.

Central office positions, $3.5 million.

86 state-funded, special-education teachers, $5.4 million.

107.5 state-funded, special-education paraprofessionals, $3.3 million.

32.5 locally funded assistant principals, $3.5 million.

17.5 counselors, $1.5 million.

3.5 locally funded librarians, $303,000.

46 interns in the principal training program would return to the classroom, $4 million.

The following initiatives would be cut, for an estimated savings of:

Maysville Math Initiative, provided by Mobile Area Education Foundation, $194,000.

Outside legal fees, $450,000.

Junior Achievement, $25,000.

The AVID advanced placement program at LeFlore High, $133,000.

Professional Development Academy, $57,000.

Staff Development Workshop, $14,000.

Transformation schools (reduce the number of teachers but continue to pay those who remain the promised performance bonuses), $527,000.

Middle school reform, $2.9 million.

Truancy Program, provided by the city of Mobile, $16,000.

These programs would be cut by 20 percent, or the listed amount:

Fine arts (equipment and supplies), $55,000.

Partners in Education (Mobile Area Education Foundation), $20,000.

Engaging Youth in Engineering (Mobile Area Education Foundation), $16,000.

Phoenix alternative school program (100 Black Men of Mobile), $57,000.

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