[Mpls] 2005 Minneapolis teacher layoffs & Strib coverage

[Socialist2001 at cs.com]

The Minneapolis School District announced that it has pink slipped 294 
probationary teachers, with more layoffs to be announced later, according to a 
story, Teacher bill revises 'last hired, first fired,' which appeared on page 1 of 
the Metro / State section of the Star-Tribune of Monday, May 23, 2005, 

The district is not required by law to lay off probationary teachers by 
strict seniority, and doesn't need to lay off all of its probationary teachers 
(especially in high-need, high demand areas). Teachers are on probationary status 
during their first three years on the job.

Once again the district is engaged in its annual ritual of laying off 
teachers it intends to rehire or replace before next fall. Last year the district 
pink-slipped 608 teachers, but planned to cut fewer than 200 full time positions. 
This drives up teacher turnover rates, especially in areas of high demand, 
because laid off teachers may accept job offers from other districts. See 
"Topic: Teachers" http://educationright.com/id471.htm

The district essentially uses annual layoffs to hold down payroll costs, 
knowing that many laid-off teachers will seek jobs elsewhere or be discouraged 
from returning to teaching. This strategy may save money in the short-run, but 
its long-term costs are devastating: Programs that depend on stability of staff 
are undermined and the resultant price paid by the schools, teachers, students 
and families is ultimately too high. 

Under the heading "Black teachers lose in Minneapolis contraction" (on page 
one), there is a breakdown of school employees, presumably teachers, by race in 
school years 2000-2001 and 2004-2005.  However, the district provided figures 
for most, if not all of the district's employees, not just teachers. The 
district did not employ 4,653 teachers in 2000-2001 and 3,741 in 2004-2005, as 
reported in the strib article. The district's 2004-2005 budget document (approved 
at the end of June 2004) shows the district allocated money for regular class 
room instruction needed to fill 1,663.2 teacher positions in 1001-02 and 
planned to fill 1,095.8 in 2004-05.  The district also employs a few hundred 
teachers in special education programs.

-Doug Mann, King Field
candidate for 8th ward city council member
http://educationright.com