Dallas school district lays off hundreds of teachers
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:44 pm
Dallas school district lays off hundreds of teachers after budget error
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 17th 2008, 2:37 PM
Hundreds of teachers in Dallas, Texas, were laid off Thursday to avoid an $84 million deficit - all because of a math error.
After realizing there had been a massive budget miscalculation, the Dallas school district laid off 375 teachers and 40 counselors and assistant principals, and transferred 460 teachers to other school districts, according to a CNN report.
"Today is a day of tremendous sadness throughout the district," Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said in a written statement.
"These teachers and counselors are people who devoted themselves to helping Dallas students, and we will do everything within our power to help them find new jobs."
Tearful scenes unfolded outside Dallas schools as students bid their teachers goodbye yesterday.
"My kids are going to lose out because I'm a very good teacher, and so they're going to lose out because they won't have me," Sandy Keaton, a second-grade teacher at San Jacinto Elementary, told a CNN affiliate.
The school district, the 12th largest in the nation, estimates that the cuts and unfilled vacancies will save $30 million, while program cuts will recover an additional $38 million. The district will hold a job fair next week for all employees who were given notice.
With News Wire Services
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Friday, October 17th 2008, 2:37 PM
Hundreds of teachers in Dallas, Texas, were laid off Thursday to avoid an $84 million deficit - all because of a math error.
After realizing there had been a massive budget miscalculation, the Dallas school district laid off 375 teachers and 40 counselors and assistant principals, and transferred 460 teachers to other school districts, according to a CNN report.
"Today is a day of tremendous sadness throughout the district," Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said in a written statement.
"These teachers and counselors are people who devoted themselves to helping Dallas students, and we will do everything within our power to help them find new jobs."
Tearful scenes unfolded outside Dallas schools as students bid their teachers goodbye yesterday.
"My kids are going to lose out because I'm a very good teacher, and so they're going to lose out because they won't have me," Sandy Keaton, a second-grade teacher at San Jacinto Elementary, told a CNN affiliate.
The school district, the 12th largest in the nation, estimates that the cuts and unfilled vacancies will save $30 million, while program cuts will recover an additional $38 million. The district will hold a job fair next week for all employees who were given notice.
With News Wire Services
