Ackerman freezes hiring of teachers
Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has ordered a teacher hiring freeze, saying she wants to make sure there are enough jobs for the large number of teachers who need new assignments in September.
In a letter to principals, Ackerman said 1,400 teachers, in all subject fields and at all grade levels, would need new placements for the fall. Currently, there are about 800 teacher vacancies.
The staffing upheaval stems from the Renaissance process, under which 14 schools will be radically restructured - run as charters, by outside managers, or by Ackerman herself.
Every teacher at the 14 schools is technically forced out of his or her current position, though all may reapply for their jobs at the new Renaissance school, which will require longer hours and summer work. No more than half of the current faculty can be rehired at any Renaissance school.
Schools that become charters will not be staffed with union teachers.
"I am concerned that there will not be sufficient vacancies to accommodate all who will need placement," Ackerman wrote in the letter, obtained by The Inquirer.
Estelle Matthews, the district's human resources chief, said Friday that she could not promise that every teacher would have a slot. While she does not expect layoffs, she said, "We don't know. Our intent is to place every teacher we have, but we just don't know."
Some of the 1,400 teachers might choose to leave the district and work at Renaissance charter schools. And though April 15 was the deadline for teachers who plan on retiring or resigning to notify the district, a steady stream of teachers typically quit through the summer and into September.
It is possible that some current teachers won't be placed until late summer, but "I'm hoping it doesn't go that long," Matthews said.
More vacancies will be created when Promise Academies - the Renaissance schools run by Ackerman and staffed
In a letter to principals, Ackerman said 1,400 teachers, in all subject fields and at all grade levels, would need new placements for the fall. Currently, there are about 800 teacher vacancies.
The staffing upheaval stems from the Renaissance process, under which 14 schools will be radically restructured - run as charters, by outside managers, or by Ackerman herself.
Every teacher at the 14 schools is technically forced out of his or her current position, though all may reapply for their jobs at the new Renaissance school, which will require longer hours and summer work. No more than half of the current faculty can be rehired at any Renaissance school.
Schools that become charters will not be staffed with union teachers.
"I am concerned that there will not be sufficient vacancies to accommodate all who will need placement," Ackerman wrote in the letter, obtained by The Inquirer.
Estelle Matthews, the district's human resources chief, said Friday that she could not promise that every teacher would have a slot. While she does not expect layoffs, she said, "We don't know. Our intent is to place every teacher we have, but we just don't know."
Some of the 1,400 teachers might choose to leave the district and work at Renaissance charter schools. And though April 15 was the deadline for teachers who plan on retiring or resigning to notify the district, a steady stream of teachers typically quit through the summer and into September.
It is possible that some current teachers won't be placed until late summer, but "I'm hoping it doesn't go that long," Matthews said.
More vacancies will be created when Promise Academies - the Renaissance schools run by Ackerman and staffed
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