Fwd: (Texas/Houston) More school district call to action alerts....

[Guest guest]

Fwding. as is,

Legislators in Austin - where are you and why are you FORCING public schools

to make such layoff's, especially in the Special Education Departments? Why?

You are pitting parents against school administrators where NO ONE WINS! ALL

PARENTS MUST CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATORS & School Boards about this! FBISD is

n...ow laying off 100 special education positions out of a total 470

positions! Beat at Board Meetings!

*RE*:

Parents in FBISD must be at that school districts board meetings as

well.....

FORT BEND ISD—

to address the district’s serious financial challenges, the Board of

Trustees approved a resolution declaring financial exigency at the March 8

regular board

meeting.

This action allows the administration to move forward in implementing

financial

processes to best address a projected budget deficit of approximately $20

million, and

develop a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 school year. It also enabled the

district to

declare a reduction in force (elimination of positions).

Out of a total of 9,500 full-time positions in FBISD, it was determined that

470 positions

(less than 5 percent) must be eliminated as part of the overall budget

reduction plan.

Of the 470, the district has identified 195 certified teaching positions

along with 80 certified

non-teaching professional positions, and 195 non-certified positions for

reduction (which

includes all other positions).

*One hundred of the identified teaching positions relate to special

education.*

Although the district’s special education population has declined by more

than 900 students in the last

10 years, the number of teachers in the program has increased by 176. The

reduction in

special education staffing is necessary to more appropriately align staff

with the district’s

current student population. Of the 195 teaching positions identified, many

were

reassigned to fill positions available at the new campuses and at other

campuses where

there are vacancies, allowing the district to limit the number of employees

whose

positions are being eliminated. It is important to know that the district’s

goal is to be able

to offer the opportunity to as many teachers as possible to return to work

in the district.

The Reduction in Force (RIF) process began last week with letters being sent

from the

Human Resources Department to 85 certified regular education teachers and

campus/district administrators, notifying them that their positions were

being eliminated.

The criteria used to determine positions to be eliminated included: 1)

certification; 2)

performance; 3) professional development; and 4) seniority. Additional

reduction letters

are being sent this week to 89 certified special education

teachers/administrators.

However, over the next several weeks, as vacancies become available through

attrition,

teachers who are qualified will be called and offered those positions.

After the April 12 Board meeting, the district will begin the process of

identifying the

remaining positions. The 2010-2011 school year budget must be approved by

June 30,

2010.

The district encourages staff and community to view the “Budget Challenges”

link on the

district website at

fortbendisd.com for all available information. An additional link

provides the opportunity for people to submit questions/comments.