It seemed inevitable that these tough economic times would eventually affect teachers in cash-strapped school districts. Now comes news that the Dallas school district, facing an $84 million shortfall this fiscal year, has decided to lay off nearly 1,100 employees, including about 550 teachers.
More than 400 of the lost jobs, according to the Associated Press, include teachers in the core-subject areas of mathematics, science, social studies, and English. An additional 500 employees—such as teacher aides, hall monitors, and clerks—will also be cut.
Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has promised a “deliberate and thoughtful” process in determining which teachers would lose their jobs, watched over by the two teacher unions in the district.
There may be more such news in coming months, as districts teeter under the financial crisis. You can read about how the crisis is affecting school districts in this article by my colleague Michelle Davis.