School board delivers the blow:
81 layoffs needed, including 29 teachers
Teachers dressed in green Grosse Pointe Education Association shirts packed North High School’s library for another round of disappointment. Eighty-one disappointments, to be exact.
According to Christian Fenton, assistant superintendent for business and support services for Grosse Pointe Public Schools, the budget planning for 2010-11 calls for approximately 81 staff layoffs. These layoffs include 29 teachers, 22 teacher/classroom assistants, 12 clerical/secretarial staff, eight custodians, 6.2 non-instructional supervisors and 3.6 paraprofessional staff.
“We’ve been able to obtain a lot of success with the negotiations over the past few weeks,” said Thomas Harwood, assistant superintendent for human resources. “We will continue to move forward and negotiate until we reach a resolution between the two parties,” talking about union contract negotiations.
Teacher layoffs were approved by the board 7-0, and teachers in the audience fell silent. Not one of them signed up to make public comments on this action item, and many others just left.
“I had to sign the letters given to the teachers who were laid off this evening, and it was very difficult,” said Suzanne Klein, superintendent. “I’m remaining hopeful that many of them can return in the fall.”
In addition to teacher layoffs, the budget planning also aims to cut nearly $800,000 in total purchased services, supplies and capital expenses throughout the district. No-fee, district-wide all-day kindergarten will be offered.
“These layoffs are not our doing, but we are forced to deal with them,” said Brendan Walsh, board treasurer. “I am deeply concerned for our teachers, but I am remaining optimistic (about contract negotiations) and I’m encouraged by the collaborative nature of that dialogue.”
The approval of layoffs of non-teaching personnel will be up for a vote at the May board meeting as a part of the 2010-11 budget planning. Without these preventive measures, the district would anticipate a budget shortfall of approximately $7.3 million over the next year.
In other business, the news was better. The Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education, which hosted the Spring Celebration that raised $40,000 for technology in the schools with an additional $500,000 gift from the Boll Foundation, has donated yet another $100,000 as part of the Boll Technology Challenge.
At the Spring Celebration, the Boll Foundation challenged the district's residents to raise $250,000 for Grosse Pointe Schools’ technology programs. A check for $100,000 was presented at the school board meeting, and the board eagerly accepted it.
“We want to thank the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education for their generous gift, and we hope to leapfrog our technology with these resources,” said Klein.
