State OKs 10% pay cut to ease DPS deficit
State education officials have approved a plan by Detroit Public Schools to slash pay 10 percent districtwide to help erase the district’s $127 million deficit.
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan announced Wednesday he approved the district’s updated five-year deficit elimination plan for the district to continue receiving state school aid.
The pay cut, which will impact all teachers and administrators starting Oct. 1, came after the district was forced to make budget cuts to offset expected revenue from a failed countywide tax millage. The wage concession for teachers would generate $13.3 million in savings. Districtwide, the savings will be $21.1 million.
The district’s financial plan also calls for the closure of 24 schools or buildings over four years, starting with the 2015-16 academic year.
Parents, educators and community stakeholders met Wednesday morning in front of Ludington Middle School to denounce the cuts, as well as the district’s previously announced plans to increase class sizes.
Brian Kindle has two children beginning Head Start in the fall, and a 15-year-old at Cody High School. He said he’s worried about how pay cuts will impact his kids.
“I say hands off first responders, kids and teachers,” he said. “I’m here to support parents and their children, and to ask Gov. Snyder not to vote for the proposal.”
Kindle said he fears additional cuts will result in further neglect of students in the classroom.
“We should have classrooms on every corner, instead of liquor stores,” he said. “That would be great, but we don’t have a society that encourages it. But I will remain on the forefront supporting our children.”
The pay cuts also worry Kim Tack, who teaches science and social studies at Ludington. She has taught in the building for three years, and has been a DPS employee for 19 years.
“They’re talking about a 10 percent pay cut, and at the same time, our insurance premiums have more than doubled,” said Tack. “How am I supposed to pay for my house?”
Michelle Morden teaches English language arts at the middle school. She’s been with DPS for 17 years.
“This is going to affect my whole financial situation, and it’s going to have a huge impact on my family,” she said. “It’s also going to impact the way we
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140820/SCHOOLS/308200061#ixzz3B2cqFBG3