Teachers came out in numbers
wearing pink, and read the attached statement as one unified body. They
were wearing pink in support of those who were pink slipped. The Board
President stated, "...it's all because of the Charter
School".
I spoke with
the other board members and shared my concern with voting, not knowing the
impact to the students. I also stated that it's disappointing to hear the
impact from the teachers, and not our district, prior to voting. I
explained to the board that I had not been privy to any information, prior to
the teachers presenting to us that night, on which classes, programs, etc.,
were being cut.
One parent hearing that information spoke, expressing her concern about the inconsistency in what we are doing as a board and what is being told to the community. She stated that as a parent, she was sick and tired of the divisiveness, lies, talk about charter, and hiding information from other board members. She declared, "...it's time out for that, and now what are we going to do to fix it!" This parent then said to me, "I have mad love for what you are trying to do and hang in there". She spoke with such passion that she shook her glasses off her head and pointed straight up to the sky and said, "...it's not about a job, or any of us, it's about the children!" At this point emotions were running high, and this mom left her heart on the floor, right in front of us.
People were
in the back holding signs, while students, parents, community members, and
teachers stood and applauded this mom's message and expression. I tried to make
it to the back door to embrace the parent; however, students filled the isle
giving me hugs on my way out.
The meeting
ended on that note. Unfortunately, this part of the meeting was not taped
because it was the special meeting, prior to the actual board meeting. Nevertheless,
the teacher's statement presented to the board is below for your viewing:
Cheryl
Coleman, School Board Member
Rich Township High School District 227
Rich Township High School District 227
Statement to Rich Township High School Board of Education
We, the
professional educators and education support professionals of the Rich Township High School Education Association, stand
before you in unity tonight to declare
to the Board of Education in the strongest terms possible:
The cuts in school
programs and staff that the superintendent announced at the last Board meeting will be devastating to the quality
of education in this school district. As educators, we know that you can't lay
off 46 teachers and 37 education support professionals,
and then fail to fill 14 positions left open due to retirements, without
hurting programs for students.
As educators, we
know that these vacancies represent the essential professionals who provide
direct services and educational programs to students. They are the heart of the
school district. Their absence from
the schools will leave a huge hole in the education program
that will not be filled by tweaking the schedule and asking others to pick up
the slack. As educators, we know
that the absence of these employees and programs leaves a hole that will not be filled, period.
As educators, we
know that at a time in this district's history when we've made so much progress, when focusing on quality should be the
top priority, when excellence is our stated
goal, these cutbacks represent a giant step backwards - and no one should be confused about the outcomes they will produce.
As educators, we
know that students will lose programs, choices and opportunities. And, as
educators, we know how short-sighted it is to cut direct services and program like automotive, child development, keyboarding,
consumer economics, and electronics -
and then pack students into the few remaining classes.
As educators, we
know these cuts are unfair and destructive. The Board of Education must look to solutions that will not harm the
education programs provided directly to students.
Quality matters.
It must not be sacrificed.
