QUOLKE’S CORNER #48
LAY-OFF RUMORS
Over the course of the week, several Executive Board members alerted me to several rumors that members have heard. Not that I have time to address every rumor that our members hear, but in this case it was supposedly the Union that started the latest rumor, so I need to address it. A few members of the Executive Board were called early last week about a “big” CTU meeting that was held where the Union announced how many lay-offs were coming in the spring. At that point in the week there had been no Union meeting or any “big” meeting that I was aware of. On Thursday the CTU did have Delegate Assembly. This is a monthly meeting for all elected building chairs and delegates from every chapter. At the meeting I shared what I knew regarding the District’s Transformation plan. I have outlined much of that in previous Quolke Corners and I will summarize again in an update that is being mailed to all members this week. Never did I mention lay-offs. I did tell our chairs and delegates that there are a number of rumors out there and coming from all levels and niches of this district.
I then asked what rumors were already out in the buildings. The first person that came to the microphone announced the rumor that he heard was that there will be 900 lay-offs. Others came to the mike about building closings and lay-off numbers that were less than 900. Let me be clear…
The CTU is not announcing that there will be lay-offs, nor is the CTU announcing that there will not be lay-offs. The truth is that neither Dr. Sanders nor anyone else from the District has talked to the CTU about lay-offs. The Districts decision to keep the CTU and other stakeholders in the dark regarding their Transformation Plan has only heightened the rumor mill.
Last year at this time we were dealing with an uncertain state budget and the distinct possibility of layoffs directly related to cuts in state funding. However, both the Federal Government (stimulus dollars) and the final state budget spared CMSD from having to deal with layoffs. How the budget scenario and transformation plan plays itself out this year is still unknown. I do know that if there were going to be lay-offs I would not only announce it to our chairs and delegates but you would read about it here.
It is anticipated that the District will announce its Transformation Plan in December. When that plan is announced, we should have an indication if the focus of this transformation is in redirecting resources to our classrooms and it is likely that we will see then what the District’s intentions are when it comes to lay-offs. There is no doubt that any types of lay-offs are devastating and disruptive to schools, students, and the community. Any layoffs that impact the classroom should always be the last resort.
Rumors will abound in a district of this size. When I know anything official, you will be the first to know.
In Union,
David