Finances force Lee Co. Schools to lose teachers
Staff Writer
Published: May 12, 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.”
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Reader Reactions
Why doesn’t the board take a pay cut? How much do they get a month to decide our futures? I encourage everyone to attend the June meeting. It will be held on June 16 at 6:00 at Beauregard Elementary. Also, isn’t Dr. nowlin’s contract public record? I would like to see that!
I’m sorry. I meant to type that these comments are NOT going to create enough public outcry.
The only people that can hold the board members and superintendent accountable is the public. I’m afraid posting these comments are going to create enough public outcry. A packed house at the next board meeting would “suprise” them all. They all need to know that we are unhappy with teachers losing their jobs while others are riding around in new cars with fat paychecks. Three assistant superintendents? Come on! Someone to oversee construction of Smith Station High School? The architect and construction company is in charge of that! We should protest all of this at the next board meeting and make sure media coverage is there.
wearone- You’re right, and the problem is the school board will replace you with another job hungry 23 yr. old that they’ll figure a way to fire or cut pay within the first 3 of their years. Gotta love a bunch of board members telling teachers what they’re worth. Where’s the panel of oversight for the board members? I’ll join it and teach them a thing or two about accountability.
I suggested this to my teacher friend. When you are not tenured, your afraid to do anything that might ruffle feathers. You have to be a YesMan and sometimes that isn’t even good enough.
All of the teachers should have refused the new contract, and invariably created a strike. That would have showed this pompous school board that they don’t have the rights to do whatever they want with almost 200 teachers’ jobs.
How dare someone come into this discussion session and attack teachers for grammar errors? If you feel that way, that all teachers are supposed to be perfect, then apply to work as one, and show us this “perfection.“ People like this have no idea what it takes for our college-educated (many of them with a Master’s) teachers to commit hours out of their nights grading papers and making lesson plans. My mother is a retired teacher who had to work hours on end applying for GRANTS just to get items paid for that she and others needed in their classrooms. I commend teachers in Lee County and also in the Opelika and Auburn public schools systems. You helped make me what I am today, and you’ve left a lasting impression that is driving me to continue my education daily and make a difference in society. Anyone who complains so much about teachers is certainly free to homeschool their own children, which is most certainly legal in the state of Alabama. Might I suggest you pay yourself 30 or 40% less than your work ethic shows? That would give you a good indication of what these educators go through. If we keep treating our teachers this way, no one is going to go to college to teach. It’s much easier to get a career with companies that pay better, and treat you better, without griping parents who look for perfection.
Unless parents get involved, this will all be swept under the rug. I’m going to attend the next board meeting and support the teachers that lost their jobs. I’m going to let the board know that I am not happy with the money situation. Does anyone care to join me? A standing room only crowd would send a powerful message.
Why is there money for 3 assistant superintendents and a job search for a clerk of the works for a salary of 70,000 to 100,000? I thought money was tight.
In my opinion, if the schools are in such trouble one way of helping to cut expenses seems that the superintendent of the schools systems could possibly take a pay cut. There should definately be a freeze on a raise. I have heard that they have a very large income. It seems that a small pay cut would possibly help somewhat. It certainly would not hurt. We need the teachers in the classrooms so the classes are not running over with students.
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