'Honorable' Discharges Provoke Suit Against Chicago

By Jeff Archer

School officials call the terminations "honorable," but the label isn't soothing feelings for a group of teachers suing the district for laying them off.

Time ran out late last month for the 138 educators who had failed to find new jobs in the district by the end of a grace period allowed by the school system. The group includes about 35 teachers who lost their positions two years ago when the district "reconstituted" seven high schools, a last-ditch effort to turn around a school by replacing its staff. The rest saw their previous posts eliminated because of changes in personnel needs.

Under a new policy adopted after the district came under mayoral control in 1995, the laid-off teachers were given 10 months, instead of the traditional 20, to apply for jobs at other Chicago public schools. During that time, they collected their regular salaries and worked as substitutes. After that, they were told they...