If there is any chance that PowerLearning21.com can help this situation we will do our best.
Teachers React to School Closings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
What do teachers in the Kansas City School District think of the decision to close schools? KMBC’s Jana Corrie spoke with Andrea Flinders, president of the Kansas City Federation of Teachers Local 691. Flinders said that many teachers right now are feeling uncertainty because they don’t have all the answers about what lies ahead for them. She said that she is getting calls and e-mails from teachers wondering whether they will have a job, or if they will be moved to another school. Flinders said that it is unfortunate that the situation in the budget reached the point where closings were necessary. However, she also said that most people who work in the district understand the need to close schools. Flinders said the move will help protect the district from bankruptcy and ultimately make Kansas City a better environment for kids to learn.
Superintendent Dr. John Covington has announced plans for cutting 700 jobs from the district, 285 of which would be teachers. Flinders said that with retirements, resignations and a possible buyout, the cuts may not be as bad as they sound. Plans to help buy out teacher contracts will be pitched by the district to the Kansas City School Board soon. The plan will ask for $20,000 for teachers. About 500 teachers would be eligible for a buyout, but it’s unclear how many would take advantage of it.Flinders also added that before these cuts were proposed, the district already had performance evaluations in place which could lead to under-performing teachers losing their jobs. Evaluation cuts would be made first, then the “right-sizing” cuts, which would be based on seniority.
