"ALBANY -- Citing a Post story about a rogue Queens teacher who manages his real-estate empire from a Department of Education 'rubber room,' schools chief Joel Klein pleaded with lawmakers yesterday to ease limits on the firing of educators.
The chancellor, in Albany to testify against proposed budget cuts, said the 'absurd' restrictions on firing teachers devoured precious resources at a time when the city can least afford it.
'On Sunday, the New York Post ran a front-page story about a teacher who has been reassigned to the rubber room for more than seven years,' Klein said.
'In the event of layoffs, I wouldn't be able to get rid of this teacher. Instead, I'd be forced to lay off other teachers so this reassigned teacher can continue showing up each day to a rubber room,' Klein said."
The chancellor, in Albany to testify against proposed budget cuts, said the 'absurd' restrictions on firing teachers devoured precious resources at a time when the city can least afford it.
'On Sunday, the New York Post ran a front-page story about a teacher who has been reassigned to the rubber room for more than seven years,' Klein said.
'In the event of layoffs, I wouldn't be able to get rid of this teacher. Instead, I'd be forced to lay off other teachers so this reassigned teacher can continue showing up each day to a rubber room,' Klein said."