Teachers praised for sacrifices - MassLive.com:
"Teachers have excused the city and School Department from required professional development funding several times in recent years.
'It has been a long year and I think we handled it politely. We are the only city employees that responded to a call from the City Council and mayor to give up financial items to help the city. And, we were bludgeoned by some City Councilors. They fail to recognize what we gave up, that school administrators like principals are taking furlough days and the top administrative positions received no salary increase,' Hovey said.
Challenges cited by Alvira facing the School Department involve the transfer of teachers and students from Moseley Elementary School, which was closed in June, to Southampton Road and Paper Mill schools, the notification of layoff to 34 teachers in June which ultimately resulted in most being recalled, and continued financial constraints because school funding this year is at $51 million, some $2 million below last year's level."
"Teachers have excused the city and School Department from required professional development funding several times in recent years.
'It has been a long year and I think we handled it politely. We are the only city employees that responded to a call from the City Council and mayor to give up financial items to help the city. And, we were bludgeoned by some City Councilors. They fail to recognize what we gave up, that school administrators like principals are taking furlough days and the top administrative positions received no salary increase,' Hovey said.
Challenges cited by Alvira facing the School Department involve the transfer of teachers and students from Moseley Elementary School, which was closed in June, to Southampton Road and Paper Mill schools, the notification of layoff to 34 teachers in June which ultimately resulted in most being recalled, and continued financial constraints because school funding this year is at $51 million, some $2 million below last year's level."