Saline calls back 28 teachers who were facing layoffs
The Saline school district is calling back 28 teachers today from layoff status as administrators complete the initial phase of staffing for the 2010-11 school year.
That leaves about 31 teachers still slated to be laid off. The district issued 63 notices earlier this year in an attempt to cut about $3 million from next year's budget. Six teachers have already been recalled following a concession agreement.
The district's goal is still to eliminate about 20 positions overall, said spokesman Steve Laatsch, the district’s assistant superintendent of instructional services.
"We will be able to bring back some more people, but we're not sure yet how many," Laatsch said.
One factor in making that determination will be whether state legislators pass a retirement incentive plan for veteran educators.
Another is how many new students will enroll in the district as a result of Saline's schools-of-choice status for K-6.
Laatsch said the district is still working to enhance a number of programs despite the current budget environment, including literacy support and the daily music program for fifth graders. He said administrators strongly believe the music program is worth keeping, as it helps build a band and orchestra program for the middle and high school levels.
Next week, administrators will continuing work on the staffing process, looking at shuffling people to different positions, in light of the new building configuration plan passed by the Board of Education in March.
Comments
Steven Harper Piziks
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 8:17 p.m.
Are we still talking about this? --Teachers are not paid over the summer. Ever. Sorry, but you're misinformed. It's why I have to write novels--teaching doesn't pay enough. --Teachers health care benefits aren't free, either. I have a deductible, physician co-pay, and a prescription co-pay. If I go outside the little circle of doctors or med centers allowed by our insurance, I have a truly enormous co-pay. And I was just informed today, in fact, that due to rising insurance costs, my family deductible has doubled FOR THIS YEAR, and I have to start paying on it immediately, even though we're nearly through the fiscal year and I've already met the deductible. Surprise! --I took a pay cut this year, and I haven't had an actual raise in three years. I have no idea where you're 2.5% figure came from, though I don't teach in Saline. Is that figure for them? --Teachers =can= retire at 55, which is after 30 years of teaching (assuming you start at age 25). Not many do--they can't afford it on a teacher's pension until social security kicks in, too. --I laugh at your working-1,300-hours-per-year figure. Where did you get it? Based on 190 school days at 7 hours each? Hee hee hee! You are a funny, funny person. I just collected term papers from my freshman, you funny person, you. Shall I go into how many hours I will spend outside of school grading those, in addition to the hours I still have to spend grading the hundreds of other regular papers I shall also have to grade in the interim? This in addition to research, lesson plans, and... oh, why am I bothering? Dude, if you think teaching is such an easy, well-paid, cushy job, I suggest you go back to school and get your certification. You could change the system from the inside and do some REAL good in the world, all while enjoying the easiest job in the whole wide world.
Jay Allen
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 9:06 a.m.
I would suggest (or ask) those of you that are using emotion to post would take that energy and put it towards educating yourselves on the issues. This is an emotionally charged subject and jumping in with posts that supports either side of the argument w/o factual information just clutters the thread as well as the subject. Its simple. The union leader repeatedly says the state will not "allow" negotiations to be reopened and yet each week now you hear of a different "proposal" coming from the union leader. Please go back and read the many (countless) posts on this subject on this board. If you cannot "re-open" negotiations then what in the world are you doing by offering various things that NEVER add up to concessions. The many of you that read this and support the teachers, know what? So do I. The MANY dozens of teachers I have spoken to all wish to make concessions and save their jobs, their constituents jobs and help the kids. But the problem always comes back to one central issue, the "union" leadership. I have went out and spoken to people, I wanted to get the real barometer of the subject before I posted. The teachers are due a 2.50% raise. How many of you that are reading this got a 2.50% raise on your W2's this past tax season? In these difficult economic times, how many people anywhere got a raise and kept their job? The district has 2005 money with 2004 enrollment. But has wages in 2010 that are over 10.00% higher than they were in 2004/2005. I am not an Econ Major or a Business Major (I do own a company however) and this makes no financial sense to me. I have said this for months, please I invite all of you to go and see the health coverage the teachers enjoy. They NEED health care, I do not advocate cutting it out, but if they just had what my family enjoys that alone would save a lot of cash. "Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball's" post is very accurate. Again, instead of letting your emotions run with this, take the time to educate yourselves on what the issues are. It'll be very clear where the problems lie.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 6:08 a.m.
The real problem is that teachers salaries are about 90% of the schools annual budget.. Saline teachers average about $68,000 per year in salary, but they only work about 1300 hours per year. Teachers enjoy 2 levels of automatic annual pay raises - unlike anyone else.. The teachers pay zero for all family healthcare, can retire at 55, have lifetime healthcare and life time pension. They get about 3 months off each year - and it is paid. Now that is great if your company is generating money to pay all that and the economy demands you pay those salaries and benefits to hire your teachers. But sadly, Michigan does not have that kind of money. A +15% unemployment rate helps (maybe 50% in Detroit) generate less and less taxes. Property values have fallen by about 50% over 4 years and few see those prices climbing back soon. Less sale tax, less gas tax, less taxes collected all around. Salaries in the real world have fallen too, as have benefit levels. Private schools in the area pay their teachers about half of what Saline Schools pays - yet those kids test scores are just as high or higher. The funding of the schools has to a large degree vaporized. Everyone in the State of Michigan has taken serious cuts. I think the teachers Union needs to do the same. Do teachers care about our kids? I think they do and they know that fewer teachers in the class rooms is not going to produce the best outcomes for the kids. By paying 2-5% of the teacher health care costs (like 100% of all others in Michigan) the policy price would fall tremendously; by taking a pay freeze for 2-3 years (like everyone else in Michigan already has) the school budget would allow for all teacher call backs and more.. The money is there - will it be spent for the kids benefit or the teachers benefit?
GRANDPABOB
Sun, May 9, 2010 : 7:05 a.m.
Instead of bashing the teachers we should be demanding our elected officials take pay cuts. After all they are responsible for how much money goes to the schools not the teachers. The elected officials are the ones over paid not the teachers in my opinion.
onlinejoey
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 7:37 p.m.
@A24Evr They still have 28 laid off. Does that add up for you? 10% of the faculty on lay-off doesn't seem like business as usual to me. From the community meetings the cuts are still happening like classes at HS, admin staff cuts, textbook cuts, transportation cuts, etc. One piece of positive (semi-positive at that as plenty still laid off) and now things are too good...?
Edward R. Murrow's ghost
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
The teacher bashers will be disappointed.
A24Evr
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 4:34 p.m.
Mr. Graden must be a product of that Online Math he was proposing. If you ask me things just don't add up? The SEA gives up 3 paid training days that equals $500,000 between this year and next, you close one school and all of a sudden that equals the 3 to 4 million dollars that Saline needed to cut from the budget and teachers are now being hired back. Does this make cents to you all? A few weeks ago everyone wanted the teachers to give up everything including their first born child, how does this add up? Where are we all of a sudden flush again and back to business as usual? Where did all the other cuts come from or where did all the money come from? Fill me in please.
onlinejoey
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 4:09 p.m.
This is good news!
Happy Puppy
Fri, May 7, 2010 : 3:36 p.m.
Great job Saline admin! All you haters: I am a parent who is okay with the state of SAS. Not in love with it, just okay with it. Opening School of Choice to high school would be a great move to make be happier.