Detroit Public Schools Announces 10% Pay Cuts & Massive Layoffs

[amborin]

Detroit Public Schools announces 10 percent pay cuts, massive layoffs

By Toby Reese

25 June 2011

Detroit Public Schools (DPS) Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts announced on Thursday that the district would demand 10 percent wage cuts from all employees in 2012, while axing 853 more jobs. The cuts are part of a broader dismantling of the public education system in Detroit, and will come on top of previous concessions and mass layoffs of public school workers.

The plan estimates that 66,360 students will enroll next year, down from 74,000 total students this past year. All major contracts with the school district, including transportation, utilities, and supplies, will be rebid with planned reductions in services.

Roberts, who has been given dictatorial powers to slash DPS spending, declared, "This budget will require us to live within our means while supporting the education plan that's been put in place." This "education plan" includes the closure of dozens of schools and the handing over of dozens more to private charter operators.

There will be sweeping job cuts in essentially every department including school administrators, clerical and professional staff, counselors, teacher aides, and central office supervisors. The plan calls a small reduction in class sizes for fourth through twelfth grade—kindergarten through third grade will remain at 25. Roberts claims that most of the districts 4,400 teaching jobs have been spared.
That most teaching jobs will be "spared" is an outright lie. While leaving those who are fired absolutely helpless financially, the remaining teachers will face increasingly desperate economic conditions.

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http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/jun2011/detr-j25.shtml

[milwaukeelib33]

1. Wow, I know many districts are facing declining enrollment

But 11% decline in one year is amazing. Hopefully Detroit can get thing turned around for everyone's sake, including these teachers.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Detroit Schools Spent $1.6 Million on Travel Last Year, Despite Shrinking Budget

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/06/24/36mct_midpsbudget.h30.html