BROOKLINE (CBS) – As layoff notices go out across the state, educators rallied to save their jobs with a caravan through the streets of Brookline Monday. The procession, which involved an estimated 500 vehicles, started at Larz Anderson Park and ended at Brookline High — where hundreds protested sweeping education cuts.
“There are some districts that are cutting art, gym, music, technology, computers, library those are some of the most important subjects,” said Sarah Blout Rosenberg, a Cambridge teacher.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) says hundreds of educators, across more than 50 school districts, have been pink slipped – they fear hundreds more are at risk. On Monday alone, educators in Medford, Newton and Norfolk were notified of a reduction in force. Superintendents are blaming the budget cuts on the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.
Teachers rally to save jobs at Brookline High School (WBZ-TV)
“Cuts at this level are going to be devastating to public education, particularly in communities of color,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “We need to balance the budget on the backs of the millionaires and billionaires and not on the backs of the people.”
In Brookline, Graciela Mohamedi is one of 360 educators who were laid off last month. But after public push-back, the district has since re-hired more than 300 school employees. Mohamedi was recalled last week, only to be laid off again. In an email, Brookline school officials told her they made a mistake.
“Our educators and our students are not cogs on a wheel. And we’ve been treated that way for decades. We’re constantly asked to sacrifice for the sake of the kids. Most of us have master’s degrees and have to work two jobs,” Mohamedi said. “It’s impossible to have school exist when so many educators are being laid off. And there is so much work that needs to be done in order to ensure that every child is educated in an equitable way. There wasn’t enough manpower in the schools before COVID hit. Now, we need more teachers, not less.”
In a statement to WBZ-TV, Brookline’s Superintendent said, “I am disappointed that in our rush to rescind the layoff notices as quickly as possible, the school district sent incorrect letters to a small number of staff members on Friday. Working with principals, we quickly identified these errors and notified affected staff on the same day. We have assured these staff that the errors will be cleared up early this week.”
According to the MTA, June 15th is the required deadline for school districts to notify teachers, in their first three years of service, that their contracts will not be renewed. Since the state doesn’t collect this type of data, union leaders will track the numbers. But as layoff deadlines loom for teachers’ aides and other support staff, the full scope of the fallout is still unknown.
More staff leaving the Roosevelt school.
How is KB and SC doing in the high school? Heard the teachers don't respect them for the out come and CT doing nothing but, rewarding them.
Did the school committee pass the vote so CT and her gain can check and fire you if you use her computers and go on face book.
A evil women is worst than a evil man.
I hope neither of the two previous posters is an English teacher!
"This string your able to just type on it and it's not to be graded. "
If this person truly is a teacher, Melrose Schools are in a great deal more trouble than already known.
Hey teacher, it doesn't take an English teacher to know that "your able" is supposed to be "you're able." If this is the writing of a "teacher," this individual is functionally ILLITERATE! "Your" [You're] a true embarrassment who probably couldn't pass the 5th-grade MCAS.
Great Article in Malden News Paper today on Mystiv Valley Charter school. The MTA is representing teachers who MV tried to collect liquidated damages from after taking higher paying jobs at Public Schools. The richest piece of data available is that the Charter has a 29% annual teacher turnover rate since 2009...WTF.
How come CT will let a person that works for the school become a teacher without the full degree. Some say if she knows your a hard worker and she likes you she will hire you for a position. Then she lets you finish school so you have the proper degree. My friend has been trying so hard and never gets the position. Maybe she should go to another city instead of Melrose. Anyone have any ideas on what she should do?
Medford schools are far superior to Melrose, just look at the curriculum.
The teachers, police, fire, should be able to get a make over like the city is in Melrose. It don't matter if its Medford, Melrose, or Malden. Winchester is a great place if you can travel. My friend loves Belmont they are so much for the staff. They have so many programs to have a happy environment in the Belmont Schools.
Over worked and under paid the fire, police and teachers. The respect is so bad for the men and women in these position now. The teachers are just becoming bullies, police ride around doing nothing, the fire department cant wait for their pensions. CT will be soon leaving Melrose with so much depth that Melrose will go close to bankruptcy again. Move on from Melrose if you haven't invest to much time. The teachers are on their cell phones majority of the time I volunteer and see it everyday. Vote yes on question 2.
Please dear God, please tell me this woman is not volunteering in my child's English class.
I'm trying to figure out all these convoluted stories about fraud being committed by school department staff. Why isn't this the big story? We are cutting staff at the High School, cutting services to kids, cutting paras in the kindergarten. And, according to these posters, we have school personnel falsifying time cards and paying staff for days they are not here? That's fraud, and everyone involved should be fired.
I'd love to see the Free Press investigate this.....
Sorry don't depend on administration helping staff that are being bullied in the work place. The bulling that goes on in Melrose is unthinkable. I witnessed the other day teachers planning a strategy to hurt a staff member. This don't matter the teachers will sit and laugh at what is going on. The thing that bothers me is I am a teacher and didn't think this existed. Glad I have not invested time in Melrose and will be looking elsewhere.
Stay for the three years in Melrose. Use the administration like they are using you. Then see if at the end of your third year you get hired. You should not stay in Melrose the pay is much lower than other cities. If your young keep looking for another schools. Its good to get your practice and mistakes in the first three years of teaching. Melrose is loaded with first year teachers. Hope the mentors are being helpful and not wishing for failure. When people say it happens everywhere that is not true in Melrose its worse here.
...goes around. Notice how many teachers give notice in July or August leaving the superintendent and principals in the lurch? This is what happens when an administrators disrespect their teachers. Teachers do talk and then the word gets around the educational community that Melrose administrators disrespect their teachers and students as well as parents. Or they could watch this all play out on MMTV school committee meetings as the school committee chair disparages members of the public who speak during public comment.
When a competent reporter shows up in Melrose and starts reporting the truth about the corruption within city hall and school administration, they are swiftly moved out of town, such as Aaron Leibowitz, who apparently wrote one too many accurate articles about the myriad MPS scandals.
I would report this to the head of the schools which is the superintendent or her assistance. You have a better chance of hearing back from the superintendent. Or go directly to the SC meeting on Tues. at city hall. Tell them quickly whats happening in your school. The problem is you have 5 minutes to speak then you have to stop. With this situation you will be so humiliated from your staff it might not be worth it.
Aaron had a GREAT story about racism and despicable treatment of black mentors and sped students. He had statements from staff and black mentors. What happened you ask? His editor went with him to see Cyndy and the story was killed. Worse, is those mentors who were honor students will no longer assist in SC's class and the racist teacher was brought into MHS by recently promoted CB as Asst. Principal is still there. Those students are left in her grossly incompetent hands.
Did you see a draft? I would love to read it.
bullying (not bulling)
Why would anyone with an ounce of awareness think that calling the very people responsible for promoting and allowing such conduct, responsible for the "racially hostile environment," as the federal investigators have documented, responsible for the pervasive atmosphere of intimidating staff, parents and students, would be the appropriate authorities to call to report more of this? This is craziness.
I would like the proper channels even if its in the school department. I type with my phone and then I leave out letters when I press post. That's not the point of the story and to be critical of that is very child like and needs to get a life.
You might not ever hear from P.W.L. she never returns calls and if your being bullied you are better off to get a Lawyer.
"Get a life" epitomizes the kind of immaturity that goes right along with the bad culture here. No, the person who wrote to "Get" wasn't a bully, just someone being realistic and factual towards someone who isn't mature enough to accept legitimate criticism. Calling "Reality" a bully is just classic projection, done by people who typically are actual bullies themselves. Too many people try to blame their electronic devices for their own sloppiness and poor communication, starting with the top bosses in this school district, who are abysmal communicators and always blame everyone but themselves.
This superintendent needs to go.
Medford schools are far more superior than Melrose. The advantage is the school is Kindergarten through eighth grade. Everyone in the schools adjust better to this type of environment. My uncle works in the McGlynn School in Medford and has a lot of good stories.
But the reporter, Aaron, who was reporting the controversial stories was moved to Malden. I would like to read his behind the scenes tell-all of his time in Melrose.
He was too good for his own good. I imagine it was eye opening for him working the beat here.
Ms. Taymore should be leaving.Not the teacher;s.Not good for are children and families.