BOE looks at 40 positions in layoff plan

About 40 teaching and non-teaching positions are on the Jackson County Board of Education’s list of potential positions to be eliminated next school year.

The board spent an hour behind closed doors on Monday to discuss personnel — namely which jobs to trim from the school system’s cash-strapped 2011 general fund budget, which starts July 1.

The board didn’t take action on its layoff plan — called a Reduction in Force (RIF) — but anticipates taking a vote during its regular meeting on Monday, April 12, at 6 p.m.

The anticipated layoff plan will affect the entire Jackson County School System — from the central office to every school. It will also include certified and classified positions.

The Jackson County School System isn’t alone in its financial woes for the 2010-2011 school year. Amid dwindling state and local revenue, school systems across Georgia have resorted to layoffs, elimination of programs and even closing some schools.

The district has already had to implement one major round of layoffs. Last year, the school system eliminated 38 teaching and non-teaching positions in its RIF plan for the 2009-2010 school year.

And when the fiscal year ended on June 30, the district had a $908,600 shortfall — resulting in the board adopting a deficit elimination plan with the state.

At its recent retreat, the board looked at a proposed 2011 general fund budget of $85.9 million — compared to the current budget of $89.2 million.
Overall, salaries and benefits are expected to account for 88 percent of the school system’s 2011 fiscal year budget.

Comments

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#1 confused on 03/31/10 at 04:58 PM [Reply]

I am confused, I thought Unions (Teachers Union) were about saving jobs. Why wouldn't the union say pay us less and keep more employed?

I thought the educational system said we EDUCATE children and need more teachers etc. Why not offer pay cuts to keep the needed staffing to EDUCATE?

Maybe the union really doesn't care about protecting jobs...well except maybe the jobs of the actual union.

Maybe the teachers union really didn't mean it when they said that more teachers were needed for smaller classroom sizes. Maybe they just wanted more dues coming in.

#1.1 George Jackson on 03/31/10 at 06:13 PM [Reply]

There are NO teacher unions in Georgia. Georgia is a right to work state. There are teacher organizations but they have no collective bargaining rights. I do not know how many times this must be said ad nauseam. The state can do whatever they feel like.

#1.2 You sure are... on 03/31/10 at 06:51 PM [Reply]

There are no teacher unions in Georgia.

#1.3 Doris on 03/31/10 at 07:33 PM [Reply]

They are going to do what they want and then when election time rolls around, we'll do what we need to do and should have done long ago.The system is the same as it was back in the 70's and 80's. under the table deals and back stabbing.

#1.4 Fidel Cashflow on 03/31/10 at 08:45 PM [Reply]

Really? Do you really not know that there are NO teacher unions in this state? Your comment is just ignorant.
Teacher pay is being cut.
There are no unions for teachers to pay dues to in this state...even if there were, wouldn't less teachers mean less dues coming in?
Really? I just have to shake my head at this your comment.
You are confused.

#1.5 Teacher on 04/01/10 at 11:42 AM [Reply]

Let me reiterate what others before me have said: THERE ARE NOT TEACHER UNIONS IN GEORGIA. As George Jackson posted, there are teacher organizations which teachers pay to be members of, but these organizations are NOT unions. They represent teachers on Capitol Hill, working to make sure our rights and (most importantly) the rights of students are protected. Teachers join these organizations for liability insurance coverage. Teachers ARE receiving large pay cuts, in addition to huge cuts on school budgets which cause us to spend our decreasing salaries on school supplies, like books, notebook paper, dry erase markers, pencils, and erasers for students whose parents can't (or won't) send these things for their children to use in school. So thank you, but please get the facts before you post.

#1.5.1 union PAC on 04/04/10 at 10:37 AM [Reply]

Taken from GAE website, union or political action committe, same thing. Take from taxpayers and give to someone else and never thinking of reducing.

"The Georgia Association of Educators, year after year, leads the education community in meeting the demands of the ever-changing public education landscape. For more than 125 years, GAE has worked for better teaching, learning, and working conditions, salary increases, and improved retirement benefits."

#1.6 CB on 04/08/10 at 01:29 PM [Reply]

They already ARE paying us less! I have been teaching for 18 years in Banks County. I received a 3 percent pay cut when our county supplement was reduced; I lost an additional $100 per month with the furlough days; and as a National Board Certified teacher, I took another HUGE pay cut. I'm making over $400 LESS per month than I made last year. Could you make $400 less PER MONTH and still make ends meet? Plus my class sizes are 34-35 students - that's 160+ student per day that I teach = more work for less pay. Teachers are not in this profession for the money!

#2 You sure are... on 03/31/10 at 07:10 PM [Reply]

Not the type you're thinking of anyway.

#3 unions on 03/31/10 at 09:07 PM [Reply]

What's different about unions here and most other places is collective bargaining is illegal in Georgia for: police, fire, rescue and you got it, teachers. Georgia unions are not real unions they have no influence or power as they do in Florida and New York. They are just taking the money and providing no service. It's crazy!

#4 Concern Tax Payer for Jackson County School System on 04/03/10 at 11:51 AM [Reply]

I feel like the Jackson County School System does not care about the education of the children anymore because every time I pick up the paper all it talks about is how many people they have to layoff to balance the budget. If the budget is so bad why don't they start at the top and layoff the ones that are already drawing their retirement check and are still working mostly part-time, they should start with those employees and go down the line from there. Also why can't the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and so on down the line take a pay cut that might also help out on the budget. I also feel like Public Schools are trying to get like Private Schools, the parents will have to pay to send their kids to Public Schools.

Concerned Tax Payer

#5 Jim on 04/05/10 at 05:28 AM [Reply]

It appears some people have private agendas that cause them to be penny wise and pound foolish. Retirees working half time are a bargain. The system has to pay approximately 30% in addition to a salary for employees for benefits like teacher retirement, insurance, etc. Retirees get no benefits, so the system doesn't have to pay most of that for them. Instead of laying them off, the system should be recruiting retirees -- they're cheaper and experienced.

#6 wasted money on 04/05/10 at 09:52 PM [Reply]

If the BOE wanted to save some money they could do away with the contract with a private company to cut the grass at the schools. Let the inmates at the JCCI cut the grass, just like they do at the ballfields. When school is in session they can cut it on the weekends and during the week while school is out for the summer. I believe the cost was about $200,000 for this contract.

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BOE looks at 40 positions in layoff plan

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BOE looks at 40 positions in layoff plan

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