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Sep 25, 2008 6:43 pm US/Central
Hundreds Turn Out To Protest Possible DISD Cuts
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
It was supposed to be "decision day" for the Dallas Independent School District, which is now facing an $84 million budget deficit because of an accounting error.
A plan to cut jobs to balance the budget brought protesters out to school district headquarters, as the board met to consider the proposal. Just before 6:30 pm the school board decided to delay the layoff vote until next Thursday.
It was standing room only at the location. There were so many protestors that dozens overflowed from the building to outside.
Teachers came in full force, to protest. But the bottom line appears to be – some people will lose their jobs.
They left their classrooms at end of the school day and marched against a plan that could send almost 700 teachers to the unemployment line.
"Why are they going to lose their job?" asked DISD employee Cheryl Van Volkinburg. "Because Hinojosa, and the people he hired to work in accounting, can't add and can't subtract."
DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa is urging the board of education to subtract an anticipated $84 million deficit, by cutting teacher jobs. Thursday he told the board he needs to eliminate 675 teachers, along with 120 campus counselors and administrators. The plan also has some 300 clerks, assistants and hall monitors getting a pink slip.
Hinojosa said there's no other answer. "My recommendations are prudent, fiscally responsible, feasible, and they're doable right now," he told the board. "Despite that, the recommendations will be painful."
Teachers say they shouldn't be left holding the bag. And in this case - an empty bag. "If you let a tenured teacher, experienced teacher go, it could affect the whole campus," said George Rangel with the Alliance-American Federation of Teachers. "…because that could be the teacher that's bringing up the scores."
Administrators argue that they made the hires to fill classrooms but didn't have the money to pay for the jobs. Teachers say the money was there and they want to know where it went.
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