Finances force Lee Co. Schools to lose teachers

By: Amy Weaver Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: May 13, 2009

All non-tenured teachers in the Lee County Schools were essentially fired Tuesday night, only to be rehired minutes later under a different contract.

Superintendent Dr. Stephen Nowlin recommended the school board not renew the current 189-day contracts for about 200 teachers at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. Then he asked the board to rehire most of those teachers and some additional staff, under 187-day contracts. The board agreed unanimously.

The reduction was one of several Nowlin announced Tuesday in a memo to teachers and the board as the school system faces massive shortfalls in state and local revenues.

Between Lee County’s 12 schools, Nowlin said they will lose between 25 and 30 teachers next year. Some are due to retirements and resignations, but the majority are because of the reduction in funds, including 14 funded solely by the state.

“We literally don’t have the money coming in for the amount of teachers we had this year,” he said.

A number of teachers, both tenured and non-tenured from Loachapoka Elementary School, attended the meeting to witness the board’s action, which they deemed demeaning and disrespectful.

“It’s not about the money,” said tenured-teacher Rob Harlan. “It’s about respect.”

They didn’t like how officials handled the situation, notifying staff by e-mails and letters instead of in person. They also doubted the financial situation is really as bleak as Nowlin made it sound.

“We’re concerned,” Harlan said. “They’re talking about fiscal responsibility, but we’re not seeing fiscal responsibility.”

Parent Andrew Gracia was the only person at the meeting to address the board on the staffing issue. He asked a number of questions of the board during his allotted time, including why teachers, parents and staff weren’t included in a discussion about ways to save money, knowing he wouldn’t get any answers.

“Their decision was made before we got here,” he said after he spoke.

Tenured-teacher Elizabeth Brannon said she scoffed at Nowlin’s comment about how the system will endure the difficult times ahead together.

“He’s says we’ll make it, but he’s never been in my classroom,” she said. “He has no idea how difficult it’s going to be.”