Teacher lay-offs and the economy

[diamondseeker2006]

For those who are saying that the recession is about over, I say, I don''t believe it. Our state budget is in trouble, and they just took a half percent of our yearly salary out of our last paycheck. They''ve already eliminated a couple of supplemental bonuses that we usually get. Then today, they called all first and second year teachers into principal''s offices to tell them that their jobs are in jeopardy depending on the outcome of the new state budget that is supposed to be passed probably in July. They are proposing increasing class size in order to eliminate some teaching positions. My daughter was one of the ones who received this notice today. And there will be administrators, teaching assistants, and other support personnel whose jobs will be eliminated as well. I wonder how the state is going to pay unemployment benefits to an increasing number of people.

If this is something that many states will be facing, I think that we aren''t even close to seeing the end of the recession. I think it is going to get much worse. Not only will there be a glut of unemployed teachers and school personnel, but the new graduates don''t have a chance to get a teaching job this year. This mess will continue to trickle down.

 

[Haven]

How awful.

We laid off 10% of our teaching staff for next year. We have a teacher''s union, and by contract they had to let us know by April, so they''ve all known for quite a while. I can''t believe your daughter''s school can make cuts this late, that leaves everyone so vulnerable.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Wow, I think 10% is more than will lose jobs here. They are having to make the announcement late because the state is soooo slow in finalizing the budget. The school systems don''t have their funding amounts yet. What they said is that everyone will get a contract, but they are giving notice to people who MAY be cut. That way, they would be laid off rather than having non-renewal of contracts (which helps later in finding another job). My daughter said one of the young teachers burst into tears when they were told. Another male teacher literally just bought a house in the last month. I am sure almost everyone has a story. But this has almost never happened here...certainly not in the 20 years we''ve been here. The sad thing is that other jobs outside education are almost non-existent.

 

[Haven]

Ugh, that is just horrible.

My mother works in a private school and their board disbanded the union, as in REFUSES to acknowledge it any longer, they got rid of all 403(b) contributions (they don''t have a pension in addition, either) AND teachers can no longer accrue sick days from year to year. They also have a pay freeze, of course, as well as slashed coaching and other stipends. The list goes on, it''s horrible.

I''m in a public high school, and we actually had one opening in my department for next year. We had hundreds of applicants for that one opening, HUNDREDS, which isn''t unusual for teaching jobs around here. It''s horrible.

I hope your daughter keeps her job. Truckloads of dust!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Yes, it is affecting private schools here, too. A close friend of mine received a LETTER last week from her private school where she has taught for about 12 YEARS that they were not renewing her contract! To make matters worse, they told her she was not to come to graduation because it might take away from the event. (There were a few other teachers let go as well.) She has taught HS English there and has taught every single senior, and they won't let her come to graduation???!!!!

(Oh, and thanks for the dust! She actually has mixed feelings because she does have another job opportunity working for her boyfriend's business. But he wasn't quite yet in a position to hire her fulltime.)

 

[Haven]

I''m sick with disgust over your close friend''s story. What a way to treat someone.

 

[D&T]

Date: 6/4/2009 8:01:40 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Yes, it is affecting private schools here, too. A close friend of mine received a LETTER last week from her private school where she has taught for about 12 YEARS that they were not renewing her contract! To make matters worse, they told her she was not to come to graduation because it might take away from the event. (There were a few other teachers let go as well.) She has taught HS English there and has taught every single senior, and they won''t let her come to graduation???!!!!

(Oh, and thanks for the dust! She actually has mixed feelings because she does have another job opportunity working for her boyfriend''s business. But he wasn''t quite yet in a position to hire her fulltime.)

oh no,,, this sounds terrible... how awful.. I"m sorry that they did this to your friend... Dust your way and to your friend

 

[Elegant]

I received a pink slip - and a termination letter! i am going back to my district because I was out on a leave of absence and I will secure my seniority there...I will have 8 years of teaching under my belt.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thanks for the wishes for my friend. I spoke with her tonight and she was more heartbroken to miss graduation than she was to lose the job.

Elegant, I think I remember your situation, and that was unreal, too! Do you mean you are going back to another position in the same district or a former district?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 6/4/2009 8:01:40 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006

(Oh, and thanks for the dust! She actually has mixed feelings because she does have another job opportunity working for her boyfriend''s business. But he wasn''t quite yet in a position to hire her fulltime.)

I just realized that this may have been unclear. I was speaking about my daughter here, not my friend.

 

[KimberlyH]

My thoughts and feelings are very different from most regarding budget and so forth, so I won''t throw those thoughts into the mix.

As a knew teacher who hasn''t found a permanent position I''ve been working part time in a temporary position (at a Title 1 school in a small group setting with students that struggle in core subjects) and substituting. While it''s difficult not knowing when I''ll have a more permanent position, which puts clearing my credential in jeapordy, I feel like I''m paying my dues and I don''t resent it.

The need for teachers, and then lack thereof, comes in waves. I remember in the early 90s public school district recruiters waiting outside of classrooms to recruit uncredentialed teachers because the need was so great, and then there were too many teachers, and so on. The time will come again when the demand for teachers is quite high. In California they are predicting that will come in the next 4 years as so many baby boomers retire, those new teachers who were let go during this wave move on to other careers and decide not to come back, and teaching programs wane as a result of all of the press about teachers losing jobs.

 

[AGBF]

I empathize. I cannot remember with whom I was talking, but I think it was my husband''s cousin who lives in California. She became a special education teacher a few years ago as a second career. (She has teenage sons. When she was younger she dropped out of law school and worked for the IRS before she was married and had children.)

I had thought of special education as a field in which teachers were needed, but she told me of layoffs among special education teachers with whom she worked. It shouldn''t surprise me, really. It has been clear for decades that our society doesn''t care about education.

AGBF

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I totally agree that this will cause fewer people to go into education programs. That and the myriad of other problems in education already. We''ve just never had an over supply here. In the past few years, our district went on recruiting trips out-of-state to fill positions. Now there aren''t any jobs for the graduates in-state.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

All this is so sad. There are numerous budget cuts being made in my kids' district and unfortunetly, the teacher who I had hoped my younger son would get for 1st grade is being transferred due to all this. At least she still has a job. I'm worried about a few others who are *wonderful* with kids not being contracted next year. There is even talk of limiting bus service. Extending the non-service radius.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 6/4/2009 10:04:42 PM
Author: KimberlyH

In California they are predicting that will come in the next 4 years as so many baby boomers retire,

Predictions on retirement may have to be revised due to the recession and its impact on retirement funds! People who had hoped to retire may find that they are unable to do so. There may not be as many job vacancies as "predictors" had expected.

AGBF

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I think that is true, too, Deb. We had very few retirements this year, because people are afraid to give up a secure job in case their spouse should lose theirs.

 

[KimberlyH]

Date: 6/4/2009 10:13:14 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 6/4/2009 10:04:42 PM
Author: KimberlyH

In California they are predicting that will come in the next 4 years as so many baby boomers retire,

Predictions on retirement may have to be revised due to the recession and its impact on retirement funds! People who had hoped to retire may find that they are unable to do so. There may not be as many job vacancies as ''predictors'' had expected.

AGBF

In California that seems not to be the case. My district did not offer golden handshakes this year, but several in the area did and many teachers jumped on it. Every teacher I have spoken to that is close to retirement age is not changing their plans about dates, because they are guaranteed a percentage of their pay, regardless of what the economy does. I don''t think the predictors are right on target, they never are, but I do believe that we will see a shortage of teachers again in the next 5-10 years as a result of retirement and the other things I mentioned, at least in California.

 

[Elegant]

Date: 6/4/2009 9:40:30 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Thanks for the wishes for my friend. I spoke with her tonight and she was more heartbroken to miss graduation than she was to lose the job.

Elegant, I think I remember your situation, and that was unreal, too! Do you mean you are going back to another position in the same district or a former district?

I am going back to my former district where I took a leave of absence from. I am originally from SoCal and moved up north last summer and got a job...now, after having been fired, I resigned and now I will go back to SoCal. Sad - I really wanted to stay up here and start a life up here...now it''s all in the crapper... 0Oh well, it was worth the risk - sort of.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 6/5/2009 1:41:05 AM
Author: Elegant

Date: 6/4/2009 9:40:30 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Thanks for the wishes for my friend. I spoke with her tonight and she was more heartbroken to miss graduation than she was to lose the job.

Elegant, I think I remember your situation, and that was unreal, too! Do you mean you are going back to another position in the same district or a former district?

I am going back to my former district where I took a leave of absence from. I am originally from SoCal and moved up north last summer and got a job...now, after having been fired, I resigned and now I will go back to SoCal. Sad - I really wanted to stay up here and start a life up here...now it''s all in the crapper... 0Oh well, it was worth the risk - sort of.

Oh, good! That is terrific that you just had a leave from the former district. But I am sorry the new location didn''t work out.

My daughter and all the teachers involved in the cuts went to a meeting today and they were told they''d be put in a pool and prioritized based on multiple factors (certifications, evaluations, degrees, etc.). Then if there are openings, principals will go down the list and call people and make offers. She may actually move up the list because she has a master''s already, but the sad thing is, this county is wide and some of the schools are an hour from where she is. So there is no telling whether you''d even up with a viable offer if you get one at all. If you refuse the offer, you are off the list and no longer have a contract. It would be like a resignation and you then couldn''t claim unemployment benefits. If you do not get an offer, them presumably you can file for unemployment, plus they''ll pay health insurance for one year, which is really good. So this is going to be a very difficult summer for a lot of young teachers.

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 6/4/2009 8:01:40 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Yes, it is affecting private schools here, too. A close friend of mine received a LETTER last week from her private school where she has taught for about 12 YEARS that they were not renewing her contract! To make matters worse, they told her she was not to come to graduation because it might take away from the event. (There were a few other teachers let go as well.) She has taught HS English there and has taught every single senior, and they won''t let her come to graduation???!!!!


(Oh, and thanks for the dust! She actually has mixed feelings because she does have another job opportunity working for her boyfriend''s business. But he wasn''t quite yet in a position to hire her fulltime.)

wow - that''s ugly - and also seems really bone headed. if that''s a teacher i''d had as a senior, i''d want her to be there, lay-offs or no. i think it makes it way MORE obvious if she ISNT there - like - how obvious is it at that point that she''s been laid off?! some people''s logic is so screwed.

which state are you from, diamondseeker?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 6/5/2009 6:10:49 PM
Author: whitby_2773

Date: 6/4/2009 8:01:40 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
Yes, it is affecting private schools here, too. A close friend of mine received a LETTER last week from her private school where she has taught for about 12 YEARS that they were not renewing her contract! To make matters worse, they told her she was not to come to graduation because it might take away from the event. (There were a few other teachers let go as well.) She has taught HS English there and has taught every single senior, and they won''t let her come to graduation???!!!!


(Oh, and thanks for the dust! She actually has mixed feelings because she does have another job opportunity working for her boyfriend''s business. But he wasn''t quite yet in a position to hire her fulltime.)

wow - that''s ugly - and also seems really bone headed. if that''s a teacher i''d had as a senior, i''d want her to be there, lay-offs or no. i think it makes it way MORE obvious if she ISNT there - like - how obvious is it at that point that she''s been laid off?! some people''s logic is so screwed.

which state are you from, diamondseeker?

It was unbelievable, really. This teacher was overly conscientious and a very fine person in general. But having been there the longest, she was paid more than the other English teachers. She said she certainly would have negotiated the salary had she had the chance. I think there is really something wrong with the headmaster of this school. I am in NC.

 

[whitby_2773]

north carolina, huh? really sounds as tho you guys are fighting some bad scenarios in your education system. i feel for you and hope things improve soon, regardless of what economists and statistics say.

we''re in NY and tim works on wall street. no direct threat to his job yet (tho nobody sees the axe coming and we''re WELL aware of that), but there''s plenty of stress in that direction in this household and end of company reviews are coming up now. ''reviews'' used to mean ''pay rise/promotions''. now it means ''lay off''s/pay decreases''.

i have nightmares about it, frankly; its the unknown that is so worrying....

 

[Magenta]

Ouch! None of that sounds good.

It seems so different to here (Australia) where, from what I hear, they''re having trouble finding teachers, especially in maths / science, and are even offering scholarships to people who take up teaching. A lot of the existing teachers are planning to retire, thus we have a higher demand than supply.

Perhaps one option may be a cross-continental move. Sad to see that US education is going down the drain, though

 

[Tuckins1]

This is definitely a very scary thing... I live (and teach) in the Detroit area. Detroit Public Schools is a PIT of nepotism, stealing, corruption, etc... They are closing over 20 schools- hundreds of teachers are being laid off, they are increasing class sizes to cut down on teaching staff... It''s horrible. I work in a charter school, but it''s not that much better. We only have 1 year contracts, and no union. We don''t get out letters asking us to come back for the next year until July!!! It''s kind of hard to enjoy your summer when you''re stressing about whether or not you will have a job come August.

 

[lovegem]

Date: 6/7/2009 1:50:50 AM
Author: Magenta
Ouch! None of that sounds good.


It seems so different to here (Australia) where, from what I hear, they''re having trouble finding teachers, especially in maths / science, and are even offering scholarships to people who take up teaching. A lot of the existing teachers are planning to retire, thus we have a higher demand than supply.


Perhaps one option may be a cross-continental move. Sad to see that US education is going down the drain, though

Austria is one of the few developed countries that has avoided a recession. Lucky you.
Us Americans will have more sh!t coming our way. All the pay cut and lay off will be topped with big inflations... Good luck to us all.

 

[icekid]

I just don''t understand why we are cutting teachers as a money-saving maneuver. There are many, many places where money is wasted in an excessive way and education does not even come close. And such inhumane treatment of these valuable members of society, as well?? So wrong!

 

[JerseyGrl81]

Same thing happened in my district. ALL of the non-tenered teachers got a pink slip this year. They say that they will hire some back over the summer, because they are shifting teachers around and will hire back when they have openings. But that is preventing some of the teachers for applying eleswhere. It is such a horrible time.