Oct 4, 2009

More DCPS Layoffs Scheduled Black Monday October 5th!

A DCPS administrator shared with me more layoffs of DC teachers and school based personnel are yet to be delivered starting Monday October 5. Some of us said that the numbers of layoffs so far  just didn't add up and it seems to explain Rhee's evasiveness on recent TV news clip about the RIF (reduction in force) . Get ready for Round 2 of DC public schools layoffs.

Coming soon to a school near you ?


Posted by The Washington Teacher featuring Candi Peterson, blogger in residence

14 comments:

Dee Does DC said...

Perhaps its people that didn't receive their layoff notices on Friday?

The Wash. Teacher said...

I heard specifically that there would be another round of staff to be laid off unfortunately. Teachers who didn't get their notices on Friday, had them mailed Federal express and received them on Saturday at their homes.

Anonymous said...

Ok - just so I understand. Are you saying

A. Some people laid off friday didn't find out until saturday.
AND there will be additional lay-offs monday.

or are you saying

B. Some people laid off friday didn't find out until saturday.
so those will account for the additional lay-offs monday.

I think you mean "A" but just want to clarify.

The Wash. Teacher said...

The answer would be A according to my source.

Anonymous said...

So far, you're sources kind of suck

The Wash. Teacher said...

I hope as much as anyone that it is not true but I live in the land of reality. I have also had a confirmation by a building representative who stated that their principal shared this last week with their staff on the high school level.

Anonymous said...

Candi, in a way, I hope this source is jerking you around - trying to make you look bad, knowing that your predictions are known to come true.

It would just be too cruel and disruptive to do this RIF in a drip, drip, drip fashion.

I wouldn't put such behavior past the Chancellor, but someone should be telling her that she will lose supporters over this. People may want to get rid of "bad" teachers, but I don't think they want to torture them - or the students - in the process.

Kings said...

It really seems like twisting the knife.

Makes me wonder if her fans in the private sector are encouraging this management style or if anything in educational theory suggests this is a good way to gain the trust of teachers and students and increase student achievement.

Glenn Watson said...

I was fired once. The principal did it in private with grace and respect. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be fired in front of students. I find it ridiculous that schools felt the need to have teachers escorted off campus by police. If that really happened its outrageous. Its unconscionable. Whoever is responsable should be ashamed.

Kings said...

It really happened, Glenn - it's on the local news video that this blog links to. It was taken by a student with a video camera.

Anonymous said...

Teachers at my school were called out of their room during class at the end of the day and sent to the principal's office where they told that they were fired.

Then they were expected to go back to the classroom where their students were waiting.

Poorly executed at every level at many different schools.

just me talking said...

I hope there are no more RIFs as that would make the process even more torturous for all than it already is.

Glenn, I was told years ago that it is customary to call the police when someone is getting fired in DCPS because people have exhibited outrageous behaviors in the past. People have taken DC property with them, sabotaged files and computers, and more.

And when you know you are firing someone inappropriately (publicly, suddenly, and with no explanation), then you should probably expect to get some backlash (although as far as I can tell teachers were very civil under the circumstances).

Anonymous said...

Any updates vis-a-vis the more layoffs rumor? I haven't heard anything, but am just checking...

Anonymous said...

I know of one principal who told his teachers that there would be no more RIFs. Who knows what this means. Assuming the guy was sincere, it could mean that that's what he's been told and he wants to put his teachers at ease. Meanwhile if Central decides there's going to be another RIF, then there will be.

Personally, I think if a 2nd RIF was planned, it was called off, because of the negative repercussions from the first one.

Rhee doesn't want anymore photos of students demonstrating in front of her office with signs saying "You failed us"