Friday, July 2, 2010

Layoff list: Is it cruel?

For the second year in a row, I'm posting with mixed feelings a list of laid-off Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees.

As a journalist, I think it makes sense to pursue and publish public information.

As a person, I know how much pain is swirling when people lose their livelihood. One of my friends is on this year's CMS list. Many friends and colleagues have been hit by Observer layoffs.

So I understand why people send e-mails like this:

"It seems to me that these teachers already feel ashamed and upset enough by losing their jobs in this tough economy, but then to see their information printed in the paper is even more humiliating. Why is it that the Observer feels that these people do not deserve privacy and a level of common decency so that they can maintain some dignity?"

On the other hand, I also got this voice mail from a CMS employee:

"Thanks for pushing for the information on the CMS layoffs. That is public information that we know who they were and where they came from."

The caller went on to note that a CMS employee bulletin sent this spring had said there were no plans to cut teacher assistants (I can't confirm that). The list told her that more than 120 teacher assistants, most working with young or disabled children, got laid off.

Another caller notes that CMS is currently advertising 202 jobs, many of them teachers. Do laid-off employees have priority, she wondered, and if so, why is CMS posting them for the public? It's a great question, one I'll try to get answered when officials return from their holiday break.

That's one vital function of the list: It lets us all truth-squad and analyze public decisions.

But that could be done by listing jobs without names. So what's the value of naming individuals?

I go back to last spring, when the superintendent and school board started moving toward laying off hundreds of teachers and other employees. To my surprise, the public responded with a big ho-hum.

That is, until the pink slips got handed out. As word about who was leaving got around, first through school grapevines and later through the Observer's list, the picture changed dramatically. Parents, students and colleagues rallied to defend people they described as wonderful educators.

With names and faces, the layoffs became real. I think that changed the nature of this year's discussion.

To anyone who feels like publication of the list deepened your pain, I'm sorry. But I think by now we all know there's no shame to losing a job in this environment. And I think we all need to recognize that cuts are about real people, not just costs, resources and numbers.

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about all the TFA recruits coming in? When are you going to address this VERY serious issue? Look at the list... HUNDREDS of names and CMS is still going to bring in TFA recruits for next year between 150-250. They are paid by the same source as all of the laid off teachers and in addition CMS must pony-up $5,000 per TFA for their "use". As we know that Gorman lied, blatantly, about the criteria for layoffs...as you said in your own caveat before the list that most were not, in fact, laid off due to performance. We know that he has and can lie about any number of other things... omissions and twists of perception are the same. When is the CO going to address WHY for 2 years in a row with ALLLLL of these layoffs, CMS is still bringing in untrained, inexperienced people for our classrooms?

Anonymous said...

I share your skepticism of the entire Teach for America program. Seems to me they're a bunch of snooty do-gooders who want to do some community service so they teach in the public schools for a few years before going to work for daddy's company at triple the salary.

If they really wanted to impact kids' lives, they would have pursued a teaching degree, instead of using a one or two year stint to polish a resume.

Anonymous said...

Wonder why so many in the community are "ho-hum" about these layoffs? Well, where were these teachers when the rest of us were being laid-off? The CMS community has been largely self-absorbed and self-centered, complaining about Gorman but lacking the backbone to do anything about it. Those of us not in your "system" have considered homeschooling a viable option now that we have the time. Sorry teachers, perhaps a refresher class in Economics is in order? Enjoy your long summer break.

Anonymous said...

LONG SUMMER BREAK????? Who are you, What Planet do you come from, Teachers have to work FULL TIME in the summer to earn money. Teachers are paid on a 10 month contract. The reality is teachers are unemployed for 2 months out of the year, here is the irony Bone head, teachers are the only people in the state that can not collect unemployment while "unemployed" during those 2 months.

Anonymous said...

Hey "Bone Head" - annualize your 10-month salary instead of blowing it during the months of the year you're on campus. Nobody believes the argument that teachers are "unemployed" for 2 or 3 months of the year.

This is the attitude that does your profession (and union) a deep disservice at times like this.

Anonymous said...

I would just leave and teach in another city. CMS blows and so does Gorman. Would be nice to have 2 months on every year.

Anonymous said...

I really get tired of people talking about the "long summer breaks" teachers get. What would you have us do? Work in empty buildings while the kids are out? There are "perks" to every job. Nobody talks about when people in corporate America get bonuses or tickets to games through their jobs. And what about folks who can call in and just "work" from home. I know about these "perks" because my husband works in corporate America. And for the record, we get EIGHT weeks off and I worked an extra one at the end of the year and will go back two weeks early. I am a media specialist with no assistant so I'm going back so I can be ready. I am the media specialist, media assistant, computer contact and web page designer plus I have to have my units planned that I teach during the year.

As far the lay off list goes. I was on it last year. I had an end of year contract that was no renewed. However, I got rehired at a much better school. The worst thing about the list is having your salary exposed but not putting your years of experience because it or any added degrees that you have justifying it. My Masters degree and nine years of experience would explain mine.

Anonymous said...

So let me get this straight, if someone is unemployed for 2 months, lets say a carpenter during the winter, that person should budget their money for 12 months so they are "not unemployed"?? Actually your ignorance does a disservice to my profession. FACT: teachers are 10 months employees, MYTH teachers can spread their pay over 12 month (SIMPLY NOT TRUE and the state does not allow it). WHY SHOULD I SPREAD MY PAY OVER 12 MONTHS if I am only getting paid for working 10 months???? Your logic escapes me. I work 10 months and get paid to work 10 months, therefore I am unemployed (one who was employed and during the time that person is not employed, is seeking employment (the 2 months) = UNEMPLOYED. Perhaps you need to review the definition and economic Index called unemployemnt. Bone head!

Anonymous said...

Wrong, there is shame. The shame is deepened by the fact that many assume those of us dismissed were poor performers. My EOC rate was better than most in my department. As an end of year hire and non-coach, I was cut. With 200 postings and several in my area I hope to return, but there is not a guarantee. Some say go to another district, that's hard to do if they aren't hiring for your area. It's humiliating and it is frustrating.

Those who are glad that the economic crunch hit teachers and we get a "long summer break" need to seriously look at themselves and evaluate. It takes someone really low to feel validated by the struggle of others.

Well said Media Specialist. Good luck in your new position.

Anonymous said...

Seems to me they're a bunch of snooty do-gooders who want to do some community service so they teach in the public schools for a few years before going to work for daddy's company at triple the salary.

I really suggest you take the opportunity to meet a corps member and have a conversation with one. Not only was your comment rude, it was also based on an apparent skewed perception of young people in our country. Have some faith in our youths' intentions, please.

Anonymous said...

TFA teachers are well-trained and well-intentioned people.Some are great and some aren't. Research is mixed on whether they're better than other programs.

The real problem is that we are stripping the schools of their future by concentrating on temporary labor. The teachers that become part of their institutions, who become principals and superintendents will simply not be there.

Make no mistake. Dr.Gorman knows he can't change the kids, so he is using Charlotte as a grand experiment to see what happens if you change the teachers instead. As many have pointed out, it saves money as well, since grants underwrite much of the cost of a TFA teacher here.

Anonymous said...

Seems that Pete and TFA have a cozy racket at $5,000 a head for temps. So even if they are paid with Levine or any grant money where would Pete be guaranteed a job next year when his retirement is vested? Many former and current employees know that as a MBA/gun for hire Pete is more concerned about the numbers than your student's education. Follow the trail to both Orange Counties and the littered field of those thrown under the bus by Hugh and Pete. Add a decades old clueless BOE and Kevin Siers will always have material for editorial cartoons. Ann, any figures on TFA retention and turnover ?

Anonymous said...

I am truly disappointed to see that so many teachers lost their jobs. WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN to do when they add more students to an already crowded class and as far as the teacher goes (they ) would have to just adjust. I was a substitute for two high schools and a middle school and I saw all kind of mess going on at all 3 schools. Many kids were very disruptive, rude, and darn right ignorant so when I sent them to the Principals office they would send the kid right back to class instead of making them do their work in area provided where their behavior could be monitored. This infuriated me because the child would come back angry and disrupt the whole class all over again.I HAVE NO RESPECT for CMS, Peter Gorman, these shady principals, like Dr. Gordon who use to be at Kennedy Middle. She allowed a teacher to choke a child and not fire him. NO EXCUSE whatsoever!!!

As long as the higher ups pockets are getting fat they do not care about the kids in these schools. And Peter Gorman will leave CMS in a NEW YORK minute when he is offered another job in another district. I would never allow my children to go CMS. It's time to homeschool and give our children what they deserve to be taught!!!!

CMS is doing the children a disservice!!!

Anonymous said...

"Where were these teachers when the rest of us were being laid-off?"

Where were we? I'll tell you. We were working as hard as we could, teaching not one child (the luxury of homeschooling), but managing 29. We were getting up at 5:00am to arrive early, leaving at 6:00pm, making sure that everything was in order for the next day. We were not receiving overtime for these hours, but doing it because it was necessary to make sure that every child had the best chance of succeeding. This time was coming from our families, who we'd see for a little over 3 hours a night before going to sleep and starting all over again. What else were we doing? We were not only someone's teacher, but the only stable person in some of our kids lives. We were the listeners of their weekend stories and the person who pumped them up with they got discouraged. We were their lunch monitors (no hour break for us, but instead 25 minutes). We were their teachers.


As far as your comment about summer goes. We deserve the summer off. That is our vacation. I would love to see you in the classroom. You wouldn't last a week. It's okay, we, as teachers, don't get thanks from our community, why would anyone expect if from a stranger.

Ann Doss Helms said...

Clearly in in-depth look at the costs and benefits of TFA is in order. I don't know about a $5,000-per-recruit fee, and I don't think that's the full cost of hiring a TFA cadet by any means. My understanding is that CMS pays them the regular salary for a starting teacher, and that the grants go to TFA for training and recruitment (not to pay salaries).
But ... I have learned never to swear to anything until I've checked it out. I've reported on this in bits and pieces several times before, but need to get a clear, current picture. Tx for tips, all.

Anonymous said...

CMS----stans for

"CANNOT MANAGE SCHOOLS"

I'm surprised that the shady politicians in Charlotte are not reaping the benefits of this disaster that Peter Gorman is making of CMS. What will happen to all these children who really needed these teachers.
If the teachers that were displaced were not underdeliverer's in the classroon...then how did they determine who was to loose their jobs......PICKING STRAWS.....or was it the teachers that stood up for the kids and were labeled non-cooperative?? BS..........I am so glad that I do not have kids in CMS....because I would take my kids to another state!!!
Dr. Peter Gorman......did you take a pay decrease?????
NO but you expect the teachers to live on what???????

GOD has a special place for all of the crooked people in CMS!!!!

He has his eyes on all of you!!!

Anonymous said...

I am a regular education teacher in CMS and in looking at the list, there are SEVERAL TFA teachers that have been layed off. They just aren't labelled "TFA teacher".

Anonymous said...

Ms. Helms, there is one thing that you can do in your position to make a huge difference for the teachers of CMS. Ask ANYONE who teaches and, if s/he is able to speak candidly, s/he would tell you stories of lousy and downright horrible administrators who run their schools like little fiefdoms, abusing teachers at will because they think that no one will stop them, least of all CMS Central Office. Please Ms. Helms; please start some kind of conversation where teachers can share this kind of information. I guarantee that this will be a very lively discussion!

Anonymous said...

I agree, the list is cruel and serves little purpose. Also, why expose their salary? It is truly a shame to see education budgets being slashed which impact our future generations, at a time when we waste so much taxpayer money on trivial items.

Anonymous said...

What's cruel is to pretend that you published the list with 'mixed feelings'....

Anonymous said...

My heart goes out to all the laid off employees of CMS. I am heading into the second year of my layoff from corporate America so I know the feelings you are experiencing. I encourage you to remain hopeful and surround yourself with positive people. There will be days when you will need a true friend to help you make it through the day. Do not isolate yourself. Don't be to proud or embarassed to ask for help. To those of you who still have a job be thankful and less judgemental of those who are unemployed. Ask yourself if there is something you can do for someone who is unemployed (especially those who are the sole provider for their family). Prepare a covered dish of food, give a gas gift card, give a Walmart gift card, offer to help with their resume. Help your unemployed neighbor. Show some human kindness. God bless us all.

Anonymous said...

Ann, if you do get a chance to research TFA be sure to cross-reference their leadership, funding, and most importantly valid documentation of the end product. Additionally the network of TFA admin folks seem to have questionable research from some of Pete's bogus study groups to tout their operation.

Anonymous said...

I was "RIF'ed" and therefore on "THE LIST" last year. I thought it was a great idea. I think it is good for people to see the individual names of the teachers who are being let go. I hope it makes people say things like "WHAT?! I know him/her! She/he is a great teacher!" and then question why CMS laid them off. More information is better than less.

Anonymous said...

Great Blog. Is there any correlation between improved test scores and the number of teachers laid off at each school? Specifically, were the worst performing schools for student scores the ones who suffered the greatest losses? Can you help us get a handle on that Anne?

Adrian DeVore said...

I feel terrible for the laid off CMS employees but I understand the public's right to know about who got laid off. My suggestion for these displaced employees is to take advantage of every available network and employment support group that is available.
I primarily see TFA as a stopgap for undecided college graduates who aren't committed about staying in Education beyond one or two years. If someone is very serious about having a career in the Education sector, will instead go through substitute teaching assignments or taking coursework for lateral entry teaching positions!

Anonymous said...

I think it is wrong to publish the layoff list and you do it only to justify your own job. Publishing this list, like publishing CMS employee salaries, just adds insult to injury.

Please remember that what goes around comes around. Therefore, let us hope that you never experience a lay-off and having your business publicly revealed to everyone without your permission.

Anonymous said...

"Ask ANYONE who teaches and, if s/he is able to speak candidly, s/he would tell you stories of lousy and downright horrible administrators who run their schools like little fiefdoms, abusing teachers at will because they think that no one will stop them, least of all CMS Central Office. Please Ms. Helms; please start some kind of conversation where teachers can share this kind of information."
The problem is we in CMS cannot speak candidly, or our name would be on this list in a heartbeat. Ann, we need a "whistleblowers forum" where we can be assured of no retribution. Please help, and yes, the truth should be known by all.

Anonymous said...

I am glad you publish the names....it give a "face" to each one of those teachers and the public sees that this mess is "real". I am a teacher but was not on the list....today is my birthday and I am so grateful. How much longer can teachers work under the "hammer of lay offs" yet continue to be upbeat, positive and promote the best education possible for their students? I am praying for each and every one of those laid off to find peace and a job!

Anonymous said...

Myers Park High School lost a lot more teachers than shown. The list does not cover teachers transferred away or who gave up their jobs to spare other people.

The teachers who are moving were generally not transferred to high poverty schools. They mostly went to schools that are demographically as good as Myers Park. I feel lucky to not be one of them, but I also feel like MPHS has been targeted to be "taken down a notch," when the reality is that we have done as well as we have mainly by working closely together and having a culture of long hours. We have a principal who is like a Japanese car engineer; he has everyone finding ways to make the school work better.

We had the higher number of IB students, but overall, the students we had coming in did not look any better than several other high schools.

So it seems the reward for that is to be dismantled.

Anonymous said...

Personal attacks on Ann for publishing the list are unjustified. Many times she and I have disagreed on issues but I have no doubt she publishes some news with mixed emotions. Teachers know their employment and salaries are public information--no one is violating their privacy or releasing this information without their permission--that was part of the deal when they signed on to teach. dj

Anonymous said...

A newspaper reporter shares a great burden for maintaining democracy. That is why the press is called the 4th Estate.

The other three estates; judicial, legislative and executive each have the role of checking each's excesses. Without the media's access to all but the most sensitive information there can be no way to keep those three honest.

I count on the press to alert me to what my government is doing, but I recognize even the media has a responsiblity to measure its thoughts before speaking. One of those times is when a person risk all to tell a reporter something that is critical to the community. The other is when harm may be done - as when release of victims' names that may cause severe psychological harm. The list of CMS employees doesn't fall within these bounds.

I agree that the list of names serve little purpose as concerns the CMS budget. But I feel just as strongly that the whole CMS story needs to be known.

Bolyn McClung
Pineville

Anonymous said...

A newspaper reporter shares a great burden for maintaining democracy. That is why the press is called the 4th Estate.

The other three estates; judicial, legislative and executive each have the role of checking each's excesses. Without the media's access to all but the most sensitive information there can be no way to keep those three honest.

I count on the press to alert me to what my government is doing, but I recognize even the media has a responsiblity to measure its thoughts before speaking. One of those times is when a person risk all to tell a reporter something that is critical to the community. The other is when harm may be done - as when release of victims' names that may cause severe psychological harm. The list of CMS employees doesn't fall within these bounds.

I agree that the list of names serve little purpose as concerns the CMS budget. But I feel just as strongly that the whole CMS story needs to be known.

Bolyn McClung
Pineville

Anonymous said...

Even though Gorman promised that teachers would be laid off based on performance, the opposite was done. It's clear the majority of people on this list were first year teachers with no real chance to prove themselves. There are plenty of more experienced Career-Status teachers who SHOULD have been laid off but let's face it - it would have been a lot of extra paperwork and effort for the principals. Since administrators are moved around so often in CMS, why should they actually try to fix the schools by spending the extra time to get rid of the experienced teachers who are basically dead weight with better contracts? Because really, if first year teachers truly were the worst of the bunch, why would Gorman continue to bring in hundreds of TFA recruits who will only stay for two years on their way to law school? And where are the the principals who should be on this list?

Anonymous said...

In reference to TFA teachers not being effective:

http://www.urban.org/publications/411642.html

Also, while teaching in CMS I don't recall teachers banging down the doors of Wilson, JT Williams, Spaugh, West Charlotte/Meck for jobs. Everyone seemed OK for 1st year TFA teachers to take those jobs.

Anonymous said...

Is it assumed that every teacher in a classroom is an incredibly effective educator? I've seen first hand how dismal the performance of some teachers have been. Why do we assume every teacher who gets layed off is a shining star?

Look at the scores in CMS. Every teacher is not an All Star. Some need to be fired. Why do we protect teachers so much? Why are they holier than thou? If anything we should hold them to a higher standard.

And yes, I am a teacher.

commonsense said...

It is true that earlier this year teacher assistants were informed via the cms budget bulletin that they were not on the layoff list due to the fact that many ta's were laid off last year. However, that later was changed by cms and once again ta's were hit hard this year. One other thing that Ann needs to look into is how cms is cutting the work hours of ta's next year but are trying to hide this in their budget scenarios. We have not yet been told by anyone from cms administation about this but our principal was informed of this near the end of the school year. Not only are teacher assistants some of the lowest paid employees in cms but we have taken big hits with layoffs the past two years and now we are facing to what amounts to a 6% pay cut due to our hours being cut next year. Not a good way to treat your employees who are on the front lines teaching the lowest performing children every hour of every day. Ask any classroom teacher and they will tell you they value the help and knowledge that a teacher assistant brings to their classroom every day.

Anonymous said...

Why isn't Gorman pushing to hire NC Teaching Fellows? These graduating teachers have been committed to teaching since they were in high school, attended state universities, received 4 years of preperation for the teaching profession (vs. 1 summer of prep for TFAs), and are committed to the state for 4 year (as opposed to 2). Teaching Fellow teachers go on to become the leaders education and will remain in our schools long past their obligation. Not to mention, there is no extra fee for there usage- they simply are committed to teaching. I don't have a Ph.D, but to me this seems like a no brainer-

I would like to find out if there are any Teaching Fellows on the layoff list and how may are currently teaching in CMS!

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree with you more. I am a Teaching Fellow and recent graduate, and I have had absolutely no luck in finding a job. Some principals are completely clueless about what a Teaching Fellow is.

It's completely unfair that we are required to teach for four years, or else pay back this scholarship, but they provide us with no job search support.

Anonymous said...

Not what I wanted to hear. My oldest daughter, Ardrey Kell 2010 grad, starts at App this fall on a Teaching Fellowship Scholarship.....elementary Ed with a minor in music....

dj/App Dad

Anonymous said...

Regardless of your views, cruel, not cruel, deserved or not, the real effect of these cuts over the last couple of years will be felt for years. The first year teachers that have been laid off over the last two years would have been the faculty leaders of the future. They would have been leaders of departments, clubs, and coaches. The TFA replacements are only planning to be there for 2 years. Are they really going to be that involved with the schools? There is a huge difference between those who choose to make their career in a field and those who see it as "something to do before my real job." The capabilities of the TFA are not the problem (though I have my doubts about how prepared these people will be to teach), but how involved can someone be if they know that they will be leaving after two years?
"Dr." Gorman has done a great job of making sure that the heart of the school system has been cut out. Mr. Gorman removed a large number of dedicated teachers from a school system that desperately needs them. He has shown the rest that dedication and hard work may not save your job. In fact, he has gone out of his way to disparage those who make the effort to become better teachers, i.e., citing a study that claimed that there was "no significant difference between teachers that were certified as "highly qualified" and those that were not. Is it any wonder that morale in CMS is so low? And that so many are running for the door as soon they can find a job in another school system? These problems are not new, but the actions of Mr. Gorman and the school board will be felt for many years and hurt untold numbers of students as they pass through a broken system.

Anonymous said...

"Why isn't Gorman pushing to hire NC Teaching Fellows?"

Excellent question! I spent an entire year supporting a TFA this year because she was ill prepared to teach. This would not be a problem if she were going to stay in education, but she has already begun applying for grad school!

Ann, why didn't Gorman cut language arts and math facilitators before cutting teachers? These educators are certified to teach and could easily move back into a teaching position.

It seems as if Gorman has it out for teachers.

Ann Doss Helms said...

Catching up after the holiday weekend: On the "whistleblowers forum" idea, that's tricky. I get a fair number of anonymous calls about bad principals. Because personnel records are private under NC law, it's very tough to document whether someone is or isn't getting bad performance reviews and whether CMS is or isn't taking action.
And while I'm sympathetic to the problems a bad princpal can cause for teachers, students and families, I wouldn't set up a forum for anonymous public attacks on principals (or anyone else).
If anyone has ideas for an effective and professional way to deal with such concerns, I'm interested.

Anonymous said...

you can thank your precious NCAE or SEICU unions for the layoffs...keep voting for the enconomic D.A. democrats who can't run a budget. if you voted for perdue, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Anonymous said...

I find it interesting that Ann Helms, who cannot find a positive story or teacher in CMS during the school year, has mixed emotions about putting people in the unfortunate position of being laid off on this site for everyone to see. How about writing about the hard work teachers commit to year round BEFORE they have cuts - maybe then someone in this county might actually care.

Anonymous said...

Physics teacher - $46,000.
Math teacher - $34,000.
Science teacher - $34,000.

U.S. ranked 25th place in Science, Engineering, Technology and Math.

Priceless.

Ann Doss Helms said...

Not enough classroom coverage? Guilty. It's a perennial frustration.
No positive teacher stories? Not true. Did front-pagers on Hopewell's Cindy Rudolph winning a $25K award (November), Waddell's Tamica Stubbs piling up awards and honors (March) and Billingsville's Shanna Rae being featured in a documentary honoring CMS teachers (May). Also, every graduation profile I wrote cited teachers who had made a difference.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious to know...what is the process of calling back laid-off teachers? There are several teachers that were laid-off with several years of proven success in the classroom. No phone call yet!

Anonymous said...

Am I suppossed to care whether a teacher is laid off. What makes a teacher believe he/she is so special that they are not suppossed to be immune from economic times. After all, their union thugs and Obama got this country in the mess it is in. Teachers- I COULD CARE LESS whether you loose you job, YOU did not cry for me when I was laid off. Play back is a BI*CH isn't it!!!

Anonymous said...

According to 9:28, we should just let anyone teach, heck why dont we just teach our own kids then we will not need teachers! It'll never happen my friend.

Let's take a look...the education process needs teachers to help educate our country. Some of you forget teachers help provide the foundation for every idea and decisions made in this country.

People blame Obama for evrything....it proves the more things change..the more they stay the same.

Anonymous said...

@ 9:28,Getting mad at teachers does not should your problems. I am sure that teachers can go and do otherjobs. What about you? How well rounded are you. Teacher do not have it better than no other working person. Educate yourself about the eudcational system.

This is why you should have paid attention in school.