If Madison County school leaders are forced to lay off employees, experience won’t necessarily save teachers’ jobs.
Superintendent Mitch McGhee reviewed the system’s reduction in force (RIF) plan with the Madison County Board of Education last week, noting that there’s no “last hired, first fired,” clause.
“Basically, what that says is, we’re supposed to look for teacher effectiveness, not tenure stats,” McGhee said.
The school system is tasked with avoiding layoffs despite the loss of state funding for 15 teaching slots next year and a projected $2.5-$2.9 million shortfall in revenue (a result of decreased state funding and a dip in the local tax digest).
The plan is to slide as many existing teachers as possible into slots vacated by retirements or resignations.
But there are no guarantees that all jobs are safe.
That’s why the RIF plan, approved by the BOE back in 2003, was discussed.
“We hope that we don’t have to lay anybody off; the reality of the situation is that we may,” McGhee said.
Close to 90 percent of the school system’s expenses are tied to personnel, and McGhee said the system has little control over how it can spend the remaining 10 percent.
“If we’re going to cut our expenditures, personnel is going to have to take a hit,” he said. “There’s no way around it.”
Tenure will be considered in layoffs only when all other factors — such as professional expertise, teacher effectiveness and overall job performance — have been weighed.
“Not only are we saying that we shouldn’t consider tenure first, our policy says we can’t consider tenure and longevity,” McGhee said. “It says we have to consider professional expertise and effectiveness.”
Six teaching slots became available last week after the school board approved various resignations and retirements.
McGhee said four current teachers could move into those slots.
He noted that the central office has also heard verbally from four-to-five others who say they’re not returning for 2009-2010.
Contracts will be offered in April. At that point, the school board would also make a decision regarding layoffs.
After contracts are issued, a few more teachers might retire or resign, which would open up slots for anyone laid-off to return.
“If we have jobs that come open after that, we’re going to take the ‘RIF crew’ and to try to fill in with that,” McGhee said.
That option, of course, won’t apply to employees that are terminated.
“Understand that there’s two different things,” McGhee said. “I will come to you with some terminations as well, some non-renewals … Those aren’t ‘RIF-ed.’ Those are folks that we’re not happy with their performance, we don’t want them back in Madison County.”
There’s certainly concern and speculation surrounding potential job loss in the wake of school funding woes.
McGhee said the plan is to handle this process as openly and honestly as possible.
In fact, the superintendent discussed emailing a flier to address frequently asked questions.
“If y’all hear something, send me an email …. I want to address it as openly and honestly as we can,” McGhee said. “I’m telling the principals the same thing, curriculum directors, everybody.”
McGhee noted that schools find themselves in a quandary when it comes to layoffs compared to a business that’s suffering from a decreased demand for its product.
“Our product, our kids, are still here,” he said. “Our enrollment hasn’t gone down.”
No need to wonder why we are taxed so much. I expected that MC school ratings would be higher if our children were really benefiting from generously compensated educators.
Right now there are way more people with teaching certificates than there are teaching jobs. There is a lot of supply...and not much demand. We need to take advantage of that oversupply of labor and let's cut teachers' wages. There are plenty of out of work teachers who will be grateful to take those jobs.
I had no idea you would make $40,000. Thanks for writing...we now see we have room for cuts as there are A LOT of people with teaching certificates looking for work. Our school system needs to be an effective manager and use the oversupply of labor to the benefit of the taxpayers and see if some of these young people with the same (or better!) qualifications can be hired at lower wages. I know several teachers looking for work, and I know for a fact they are willing to work for a lot less than $40,000 a year.
I actually think teachers are underpaid. Maybe we should raise the taxes so that all teachers can get a raise :)!
Besides, what do you guys do for a living? Some have been logging in all day long.....I've been teaching... we don't have time to do this mess.
Now, a word to all of you who have never taught a day in your life. School is tough. Children are expected to do things that might not be developmentally appropriate and it's not going to get any easier. Teachers need our support by taking an active role in our children's education. That may mean financially, that may mean volunteering our time, or it may mean reading with your child for 15 minutes every night. The harsh reality is that, today, school does not end when the bell rings at 3:00pm. Get past the idea that the teachers job ends at 3:00pm as well. And summers off? Yea, they need a summer off to study and prepare for what the state is going to throw at them the next school year. And remeber this, teachers are not teaching children to make the parents happy. They are teaching children so they can have a chance to learn and to have an opportunity to make something of their lives.
Ok, I'm off the soap box. Who's next?
http://www.open.georgia.gov/sta/search.aud
Imagine if this was a private industry!
:-D
If you look above the most recent comment by MCHS1988, you will realize that he has several misspelled words.
The last time I checked Princpales and Counslers were not the correct spelling for these words.
Oh and I had 4.0 GPA in High School, Undergrad. and Grad. school....Thanks!
If, as you say, you carried a 4.0 GPA throughout your whole educational journey to date, you should realize that clarity is an important factor in written discourse.
Meaculpae for not being a mind reader.
They seem to want to ship the kids off to school each day as a "free" babysitting service. Now, however, they are learning that it is not free after all. College graduates actually expect to be paid for their service. The fact that most of these graduates are underpaid in relation to other equally trained professionals is of no concern.
What puzzles me, however, is how they can write against paying teachers and administrators what they are worth on this blog and rail against accountability in testing their children in another one.
Keep doing what you've always done, Madison County, and keep getting what you've always gotten.
By the way, most of those "extravagant" salaries are not paid at the county level. County supplements in Madison County are near the bottom of the scale. You're lucky to get the teachers you get.
On the other hand, pouring more money, testing and whatever else you can think of isn't going to help the schools either.
More parents need to be involved. I know there are a good many parents that do really get involved in their childs education, but unfortunately no enough....it comes with the job of being a parent. So many act like it's an elective.
It is so true: Those who can't do...teach. Or rather, spread their ignorance, religion and opinions. To the 5% of teachers out there who actually know their subject, have open minds, aren't dragging their church into class, and are enduring - I salute you. The rest? I'm just glad I don't have to show up to work in the same place as you ignoramuses anymore.
Madison County schools need so much work, and the parents really need to get on board. So many parents are either over extended with their own lives or they just have stopped caring; whatever the reason, they need to start listening to their kids and helping them get their work done.
The schools could stand a good belt tightening, no one likes to have their job cut or their pay cut, but we're all facing that...thus, the school needs to also.
It's more than salaries. It's overall spending. The BOE may mean well however, choices regarding allocation of funds should be re-evaluated. Regardless of what SPLOST money is targeted for, if the project can't sustain itself at least initially, then regroup & re-evaluate. Don't burden the taxpayer. ie: Building schools in the middle of nowhere - inconvenient location for most residents, longer bus rides, increase in payroll, more gas/bus maintenance, not to mention increase of building insurance/furnishings/maintenance, etc.
I agree that past generations did much, with much less. Unfortunately, we are products of the times and we are spoiled rotten in comparison.
Getting back on track - I agree, we are taxed to death. Living outside city limits, I too am taxed to death for my private well, septic/trash removal that I pay for, unpaved roads, etc.
BUT..I disagree with you regarding ALL county employees. The same issues you raise regarding professors are going on in other departments of the MC government. Back to sheriff's deputies as mentioned above. What is too much for someone that risks their own life for others they don't even know/works all year/holidays/weekends/irregular 12 hour shifts/nights/all weather conditions/required continuing education, demanding & stressful to mention a few responsibilities. The 28,000 currently paid to a deputy w/ 10yrs. experience? Or the 9,000 annual insurance premiums for a family of four that's paid by the county employee? There are secretaries & lawn maintenance personnel making as much or more than law enforcement. Also some Rec dept. staff & the dog catcher make more. It's shameful to place law enforcement officers wages so low on the totem pole. I don't have a web site to refer you to but it is public record. Try Donna Sisk in Human Resources at the court house. I agree with you! Taxpayers should know where their taxes are going!
I am sure it is devestating. It is obvious from these postings, as I am sure that you have already guessed by dealing with some of these peoples' children in your classroom, the disdain that the people in Madison County, in general, have for education.
They seem to want to ship the kids off to school each day as a "free" babysitting service. Now, however, they are learning that it is not free after all. College graduates actually expect to be paid for their service. The fact that most of these graduates are underpaid in relation to other equally trained professionals is of no concern.
What puzzles me, however, is how they can write against paying teachers and administrators what they are worth on this blog and rail against accountability in testing their children in another one.
Keep doing what you've always done, Madison County, and keep getting what you've always gotten.
By the way, most of those "extravagant" salaries are not paid at the county level. County supplements in Madison County are near the bottom of the scale. You're lucky to get the teachers you get.
If you consider "pay for performance," they should actually be getting the same amount the "performers" from AIG should be getting...ZERO!
be worried about our country and the jobs that are being
lost everyday.