“I’m actually relieved,” Hinojosa said Wednesday. “I just want to thank everybody for letting us know if they were going to leave.”
The job cuts were made through attrition and shuffling teachers between schools.
During its initial budget discussions in January, the school board learned that Hinojosa and the district’s Chief Financial Officer Mike Addison were recommending cutting 350 jobs.
From the outset, Hinojosa wanted to achieve the 350 through attrition and avoid layoffs.
Hinojosa said it took a lot of time and effort on behalf of the district’s human resources department to get the task done.
“It was a bit unusual because you usually make your elementary (attrition) faster than your secondary, but that didn’t happen for us,” he said. “(Human Resources) had to work real hard at getting people placed too … I want to thank everybody for making it happen.”
John Adams with Educators First also credited human resources for taking on what he described as a “Herculean task” to meet the attrition numbers.
“It’s still unfortunate that we had to eliminate 350 positions, but still a good thing that we didn’t have to let anybody go,” he said.
The FY13 budget, which was approved on May 21, includes cutting 350 teaching jobs, implementing three furlough days, increasing class sizes by at least two students, discontinuing the Project2400 SAT program after 2014, reducing media paraprofessionals in middle and high schools, and taking $28.2 million from the $99 million reserve funds and $23 million from SPLOST II excess funds.
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And yes, let's keep our facts straight. No one likes to see another employed person having a hard time, but everyone I know who has a job now is doing more work for either less pay or the same pay for the last few years. So when teachers constantly say but "we are only paid for the days we work" it gets old.
This is NOT a complaint (and neither was "Again's" original comment). It was a clarification of a common misconception. We are contract employees. In a good year we are paid for 190 days, per our contract. For most teachers (and all the good ones), those 190 days are more than 8 hour days and work weeks are more than 40 hours - like many professionals. So maybe it would make you feel better to think of "summers off" as comp time?
Finally, let's start comparing apples to apples, shall we? When you look at jobs that require both a 4 year degree and certification, teachers are at the low end of the scale, even when contract days are factored in. When pure hourly wages are compared, teacher compensation plummets. Finally, in the last fifteen years or so, starting pay for teachers has increased in an effort to attract the so-called "best and brightest" who might be more inclined to pursue a more lucrative career. However, pay for teachers still tops out at a significantly lower rate than for comparable positions of longevity and education.
Next time, do a little research before you start bashing.
We are all having a hard time in this economy. Let's keep our facts straight and be compassionate for all who are affected, regardless their occupation.
Let's get real. If a contractor made what you make for 190 days. There would NOT be sick days, NO benefits - I'm tired of hearing poor teachers. Would I want your job, NO. But then I don't want to be a salesperson, a developer or many other jobs.
As far as "other" employees making the same amount as I, I have almost 30 years experience working with at-risk kids and hold two post-graduate degrees. Please don't compare me to a contractor.
I love my work and realize I could never be paid my worth. I wake every day knowing I am doing God's work and never expected (or wanted) to become wealthy. A little respect for the love, dedication, sacrifice and hard work would be nice, however.
I find it difficult to understand how CCSD administrative staff can "work real hard" in taking on a "Herculean Task" of getting rid of 350 teachers without laying anyone off. Tell me: How do these administrative staff members convince 350 educated adult employees to forgo unemployment compensation and just fade into the sunset instead of forcing a layoff.
Tell me: Why are all those who are performing this disappearing act teachers? We have ruduced the teacher count for two years in a row now. When are we going to begin cut the supervising staff as well? Are their jobs more important than teachers? I thought the only purpose of the CCSD was to teach.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that someone is massaging the truth here. Either the purveyor of this information is exceptional at manipulating the truch or the teachers involved in leaving the CCSD are exceptionally dumb. Could it be that the teachers are the only ones who don't want to work for the CCSD anymore, given current conditions there.
I understand that our school board is once again spending time to develop a new "strategic plan". I keep wondering when they are going to decide to change their job description, since that seems to be what they have already done.
Though you may find it difficult to understand, people retire, people quit, people move, etc... easy to get to 350 teachers or more each year, plus some janitors, secretaries, bus drivers, principals, administrators, etc...
The hard part is filling open positions with the remaining talent pool, including resulting transfers.
Consider asking who has retired and at what positions... Doubtful it's 100% teachers.
So rather than insinuating that some are untruthful and that retiring teachers are dumb, here's your $62 million question;
As a 35 year business veteran, and knowing that 90% of expenses are personnel - What are your solutions to close the budget gap?
BONUS: You get extra credit for identifying more than $62 million in actual savings.
Are you in the Banks camp - Spend it all?
Or, are you in the Stultz camp - Cut 700 teachers?
What we're getting is a continuing degradation of education, especially for the dedicated, exceptional students. But hey, I'll save $10 on my property tax bill....WOOOHOOO!
Tax increases will NOT solve the problems. The board and the CCSD are running the system into the ground. Not because of lack on cash, but because of poor decisions. Just throwing money will not resolve the issues at hand.
And paying money for a strategic plan will not help either. The laws that make our schools be everything to every child is what is causing this downfall.
No longer do we just teach the kids. We feed them, we counsel them, we take care of all medical issues, we provide daycare for some, and we TEST the kids to death.
It is time that the schools focus on TEACHING again.
Could the MDJ please ask how many teachers who are on limited contract, or part time contracts that were not renewed, because those are also eliminated positions.