Teacher layoffs expected at Ypsilanti High School
An enrollment decline at Ypsilanti Public Schools is resulting in mid-year layoffs, said Superintendent Dedrick Martin on Friday.
Martin said the layoffs, which call for a loss of 4.5 positions, would be mainly teachers at the high school level. The decision goes before the Board of Education when it meets at 7 p.m. on Monday.
Dedrick Martin
The 2010 district student enrollment was
Enrollment fell from 3,782 in 2010 to 3,664 in 2011, a loss of 118 students.
Martin said layoffs caused by decreased enrollment usually occur early in the school year, but he said it will be less disruptive to students after the winter break.
Martin said it’s not uncommon for school districts to adjust staff sizes to correspond with changes in enrollment.
“It would have been disruptive to the kids’ education at the sixth week of the school year,” Martin said. “We are taking every effort to minimize the impact on students as best as possible.”
He said school administrators have talked with the teachers who could be laid off and more information will be available next week.
Monday’s Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Ypsilanti High School.
Contact reporter Danny Shaw at 734-623-2544 or dannyshaw@annarbor.com.
Comments
jns131
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 9:59 p.m.
This does not surprise me in the least. I am reading a flier from Ypsilanti Hi that states they are negotiating with Willow Run to consolidate bus service. If this happens then WISD finally gets the boot. WISD was a huge mistake from the get go. I also heard that Ann Arbors transportation can't keep people either. I have seen Trinity busing hi school students in Ann Arbor from Pioneer. I guess this is the next phase. Trinity busing students and WISD getting what it wanted all along. The special needs buses. That is what they wanted from the get go as well. A poorly thought out situation. So sad. Good drivers. I see a lot of parents driving their children next year.
ironyinthesky2
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 8:17 p.m.
4.5 teachers, but 3 of those are coming from RCTC, where 3 programs (one full) are being shut down. It is my understanding (and I could be wrong, but I believe I'm correct) that RCTC funds are separate from the district funds, as it is a consortium and districts pay tuition for each student. I hope this is clarified Monday night; I smell something very wrong going on here. I sure hope someone is watching the money that belongs only to RCTC.
Scott
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.
The Grand Rapid Public School System in Michigan must divert money from education to address the disproportionate suspensions of Black students: "The state has cited Grand Rapids Public Schools for suspending a "significantly disproportionate" number of black and special education students -- a move that has forced the district to shift $1 million in federal funds to address the problem. The district is reexamining policies and creating early intervention strategies, but it has not stopped suspending students for serious offenses, Superintendent Bernard Taylor said this week, seeking to dispel misconceptions. " <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/03/state_says_grand_rapids_school.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/03/state_says_grand_rapids_school.html</a> Two points to take away here: 1) once again we must pay for their lack of self control, 2) another DWL has put our kids in danger to satisfy the ludicrous PC police.
Scott
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 7:45 p.m.
An inconvenient truth confronting those who made Waiting for "Superman" is simply this: Waiting on "Lex Luthor" makes more sense. The arch-nemesis of Superman, it would take a man of Luthor's integrity to admit the truth that not everyone is capable of producing grades worthy of admittance to college; learning advanced trigonometry or understanding quantum physics; and that some people will be left behind, no matter the effort exerted. Not everyone has the scholastic aptitude or intelligence to learn at the same rate and many of those left behind become a general nuisance to the overall learning environment and distract those who yearn for education. It's time to realize that no amount of nurture can supplant the injustices of nature, regardless of the amount of private and public money provided or time and tutelage volunteered. I would love to see the number of white students that were part of this Ypsilanti School exodus. My guess is 100%.
ironyinthesky2
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
It's not a color thing, it's a class/financial thing.
average joe
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 7:44 p.m.
@ fire rick- "Its important we adjust financially when we see a significant loss of students," Martin said. Martin said layoffs caused by decreased enrollment usually occur early in the school year,.... I don't see anywhere in the story where it says that the cause of the layoffs was because of funding cuts from the state. You say-"Give some of that surplus money to Ypsilanti Public Schools..." If the student count is down, then why shouldn't the YPS system cut back on staff? More money isn't the answer in this case.
Fire Rick
Sun, Jan 22, 2012 : 2 p.m.
@average joe It's called "reading between the lines." Don't think for one second that losing $470+ per student hasn't had a dramatic impact on K-12 schools across the state. Schools are operating on "bare bones." it used to be that a school could still function from semester to semester with minor fluctuations in enrollment. Now, losing a few students mid-year is enough to throw a district into a tailspin. Mid-year layoffs in school districts has been almost unheard of over the last several decades. Now, it's almost becoming the norm. What a shame that we don't value education more in the State of Michigan.
Fire Rick
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
Governor Snyder - Ypsilanti Public Schools wouldn't be faced with layoffs mid-year if you hadn't taken money out of the School Aid Fund to give a $1.8 billion tax break to big business. You need to fix this mess you created for the kids in Ypsilanti. Now might be a good time for some "relentless positive action." Give some of that surplus money to Ypsilanti Public Schools (and the rest of the public schools that are struggling throughout the state). What are you waiting for?? Sincerely, Fire Rick <a href="http://michiganrising.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://michiganrising.org/</a>
tom swift jr.
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
Layoffs are a reality in this state. The unfortunate aspect of this story is AA.com's choice of a stock photo of Mr. Martin, I'm sure his feelings about having to lay off teachers are not reflected in that obviously stock photo pulled from some old story. AA.com, how tragic does an event have to be before you think..."gee, that picture of John Doe and his wonderful smile that we took when he won the lottery probably isn't the photo we want to run right after his house burned down...hmmmm, maybe we should take a new photo if it's that important to put a photo in the article." Afterall, you wouldn't intentionally print words that misrepresent a story, aren't the images just as important?