Over 100 Picket the Board of Education to Fight the Cuts to Staff and Services
Teachers, parents, students, and others concerned with the drastic cuts issued by CPS took it to the streets today to tell CEO Huberman and the Board of Education that these cuts hurt kids.
“We have to unite, and fight these cuts for ourselves and our students. We cannot just sit back any longer,” declared Berenice Salas, Hinton Elementary School, who spoke to the media today. Many who were cut were “ineligible” for the reassignment pool, and initially lost all benefits at the end of June. The Union persuaded CPS to extend those benefits.
Recently terminated teachers and educational coaches made up a large contingent of protestors. The Board sent many of these teachers to schools to coach other teachers. The Board maintains that they terminated these teachers for budgetary reasons, and are looking into placements for them. Many who were cut were “ineligible” for the reassignment pool, and initially lost all benefits at the end of June. The Union persuaded CPS to extend those benefits.
As CPS sends out hundreds of pink slips to experienced teachers, Teach for America is recruiting and training recent college grads to take their jobs.
President Karen Lewis demanded a “new-hire” hiring freeze until all recently-terminated teachers are rehired.
"More than ever, the Board needs to retain career teachers -- professionals who devote their lives to perfecting their craft. But sometimes your actions appear as if a lifetime devotion to our children holds no value. That school instability and high teacher turnover is, in your eyes, “good enough” for our children and that our teachers deserve little respect. That makes me want to say shame on you.
In June, the Board fired over 200 of our top teachers – the coaches who were chosen by CPS to teach other teachers … but were these cuts calculated? …In March, you signed a contract to hire up to 200 Teach for America novices … 80% of whom will leave our classrooms in less than three years. …And last week you announced you are firing 600 more educators … and the Board threatens to fire even more. You said you would not raise class sizes in our elementary schools, but you are.
It is time to redeem yourselves, in part, with a no new-hire hiring freeze today – and keep your word. No new inexperienced teachers until each coach, each experienced teacher, is teaching again."
