Lee County cuts 30 teaching positions

Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Stephen Nowlin said recent dismissals in the school system are part budgetary layoffs, part elimination of positions that will not be renewed after retirements or resignations and part performance or skill-based dismissals.

Approximately 15 teachers were dismissed for budgetary concerns, and 15 more positions will remain unfilled and basically disappear, he said.

Smiths Station High School had the most layoffs, Nowlin said Sanford Middle School and Wacoochee Jr. High School did not have any.

“All the others had at least one or two,” Nowlin said, referring to lost positions at other schools.

Nowlin would not comment on the specific number of layoffs at each school.

“(The school system) eliminated 30 positions total,” Nowlin said, not referring to teachers who were let go for performance-related issues.

“We had a lot of people who were resigning or retiring,” Nowlin said. “They (the public) are counting that number in the layoffs.”

“We took care of several positions by just not replacing people,” he said, referring to teachers who retired or resigned.

An unspecified number of teachers were let go for skill or performance-based issues.

“Anyone not doing a good job,” Nowlin said. “They shouldn’t get tenure.”

Principals helped make decisions in regard to performance or skill-based dismissals.

New teachers will be hired to fill the vast majority of performance-based losses, Nowlin said. So those positions are not going away.

Nowlin said teachers who replace those let go because of performance/skill-related concerns will be better-qualified instructors.

“We are constantly trying to improve our teaching staff,” Nowlin said.

The State Department of Education gives specific guidelines in regard to dismissals of teachers, he said.

One of those guidelines is to not tell teachers specifically why they are being laid off, he said.

This keeps layoffs out of litigation, he said.

There is an exception to the rule; if a teacher has tenure, then that person must be given a reason for dismissal.

As for the budgetary layoffs, Nowlin said this is a new experience for Lee County.

“I don’t think they (citizens of Lee County) have ever had a reduction before based on budgetary consideration,” he said.

The Alabama State Legislature still has not passed an education budget, Nowlin said. But when they do, he expects Lee County will receive a $2 million cut in funds. That, compounded with the new Smiths Station High School plans that call for a yearly debt service of about $2 million, leaves the county needing $4 million.

A property tax proposal was voted down last fall, which also cut the school system’s funding, Nowlin said.

Despite some lost positions, class size will still adhere to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) standards for classroom size, Nowlin said.

The schools will monitor the classes and make sure there are no oversized classrooms, he said.

Despite eliminating some positions through the 15 layoffs and 15 non-renewed positions, the school system will be unable make enough budget reductions and will have to reach into reserves to pad next year’s budget.

“I want them (the general public) to know we are trying to improve our staff and help the budget reductions,” Nowlin said.

bwhitley@oanow.com | 737-2525