Dearborn School District Lays Off 57 Parapros, Calls Back 34 Teachers
A reduction in federal title funds and existing budget issues has led to a loss in classroom paraprofessionals, while staffing moves and open positions have made way for 34 teacher recalls.
Good and bad news for employees of the Dearborn Public Schools district played out with little discussion Monday night when the Dearborn Board of Education laid off 55 instructional paraprofessionals and two bilingual paraprofessionals, and recalled 34 teachers.
The layoffs were the result in a reduction of federal Title I funds, and were called “unfortunate” by Superintendent Brian Whiston. “It’s not the kind of thing you like to do,” he said.
Paraprofessionals–who handle many tasks involving assisting children in classrooms–are represented by the Dearborn Federation of School Employees.
DFSE President Rodger Bartles said he believed that the schools would be able to retain Title I funds that were lost, and without those dollars, prospects looked grim for this contingent of his membership.
“We believe that we’ll get some of those funds back, but we don’t know when,” he said. “We were able to place may of our paraprofessionals, but we knew without the title money, the number of layoffs would be god-awful.”
The paraprofessionals were warned of impending layoffs about 10 days ago, and will be formally notified now that the board has voted in favor of the terminations. The paraprofessionals were laid off in accordance with their job descriptions. All special education paraprofessionals kept their positions, as did most bilingual parapros.
Teachers Brought Back
However, 34 teachers received good news when the board voted to re-appoint them from layoff status back into the classroom. Most are filling positions that were occupied by another person who was laid off, transferred or resigned, but some are returning to their former positions.
In July, the district laid off nearly 50 teachers amid a $10 million budget shortfall.
Lee Jacobsen
12:19 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
So, what was the spiel about the teachers being overworked etc etc for less $$ when apparently they had para-pros doing much of the mundane work for them. Those para-pros should be employed part time by the teachers that need them, and not by the School board or city. Interesting that this aspect of the para-pros was not brought up during teacher-city negotiations, at least not on this forum.....
R. EALLY
5:58 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Absolutely agree Lee!!
Dearborn Taxpayer
6:25 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
As most of the Para-pro's were funded by Federal Obama "stimulus money" last year, they were placed in schools with large populations of "at-risk" and low-income students. Meanwhile, my wife had 25 all-day kindergarten students in her classroom in a public elementary school on the west side of town and never a para-professional for a minute in her classroom. Instead she utilized supportive parents who enthusiastically volunteered to help her and the children out in the classroom. A quality education is more often the result of a great teacher and parental support and responsibility than it is about throwing more resources and more money into the system...
Frank Lee
8:27 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Para pros don't teach. So I don't see how using them would assist a teacher in discipline, lesson plans or anything else for that matter. As for bi lingual that is a total load of bs. This country has only one language learn it, the sooner the better.
Susan Miller
10:09 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
I can't speak to the use of parapros in the Dearborn schools, but in the Plymouth Canton schools they are often used to assist kids with special needs in a general education classroom setting. Without them, many of these children would not be able to participate in the least restrictive classroom setting. I hope the loss of parapros in Dearborn does not negatively impact the needs of these special children.
Frank Lee
6:47 am on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The article stated special education para pros were exempt. I think this cut mainly effects bi lingual.
Jessica Carreras
4:32 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
To clarify, the parapros who were cut weren't necessarily bilingual or special education specific (except two bilingual parapros), but might have worked with any number of students with special education, ESL, learning disability, etc. needs. So while special education-specific parapros weren't cut, this does still have an impact on some of those students.
Also, my understanding is that the role of many of Dearborn's parapros isn't set in stone and may change depending on the classroom their in or child(ren) they're paired with. So no, they're not "teaching," but yes, they do have integral roles in helping out in the classrooms - often giving the one-on-one support needed for some children that teachers sometimes are unable to give.
Does anyone else want to add to that description?
Lee Jacobsen
2:48 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Dearborn Taxpayer is right on with this topic....
As mentioned elsewhere, the difference between a 'paid' para-pro and a parent who home schools their kids, (with no compensation) is minimal. Here are the definitions.....
para pro educator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprofessional_educator
home schooled http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling
The para-pros , while commendable for what they do, are an expensive luxury, with insurance benefits no less, and have to go. Parents need control. Getting the parents involved in the teaching process is the responsibility of the school system, they need to provide some direction on how to use parents as resources. Right now, the public school system is a monopoly, and there is no competition to speak of for educational dollars. With vouchers, or tax educational credits, that will change in a hurry. Schools would have to actually promote their virtues,not just dictate policy, which, when compared to the rest of the world, seems lacking. Parent involvement works. Montessori is an example, sending report updates every week on their kids, 'issues' are handled promptly, and $$ costs are much less than what the state gives public schools per pupil.
Parents need to take responsibility for their kids education, and give the govt a rest.
Sorry para-pros, time to look elsewhere....haven't home schooled kids won the spelling bee numerous times? Parents who home school should be compensated.
YF
9:36 am on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Frank Lee...do you live in Dearborn? Do you not see what type of community you live in? I can't imagine that everyone you have encountered speaks perfect English and have always had that ingrained in them. We are one city and one school district. English is not the primary language in households of a large part of Dearborn's population because they weren't born and raised here. These students are unfortunately at a disadvantage when they attend our schools because not only are they trying to grasp the subject matter, but trying to grasp the language itself. While the other students push further ahead because they don't have that obstacle, the English language learners fall further behind. As a teacher in our district, I have seen firsthand how our bilingual parapros aid in overcoming that obstacle. They provide assistance in translation, as well as provide a bridge of comfort to the students, who then build their confidence to participate more in the classroom, using the English language, and excel at their studies. Taking away the parapros will only make that obstacle even greater. If we want our students to be the best, meet the requirements of the state, and succeed beyond high school, taking away their support system and the tools to get there is definitely not the answer. This will be a reflection on the ENTIRE district, not certain schools.
Lee Jacobsen
10:18 am on Thursday, August 25, 2011
YF, there are many qualified volunteers in the community (think retired teacher babyboomers) that can help teach the kids English, why not utilize these almost zero cost resources, instead of spending funds that are badly needed elsewhere, ie basketball courts. (just kidding).
Frank Lee
5:08 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
One of the major componates of public education is to socialize them into the larger community. So I don't see how homeschooling is an option for anyone but a very small group of children. Secondly bilingual education has to go. I do not believe I should be taxed to support a cultural agenda. Lastly China, and Korea who score better than our children on some criteria do not when a myriad of other social factors are considered. The problem with our education system is not teachers unions, funding, or classroom size but the fundamental purpose of our schools. Our system is based on preparing students for an industrial manufacturing economy that has not existed for twenty years. We need a paradigm shift.
Lee Jacobsen
1:58 am on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Frank, so what should the school system be preparing our kids for, all attending college?
What do you suggest the shift to move to?
Indirectly , funding is a problem with education. Teacher's unions, by letting the health insurance for teachers be 'bidded out' to qualified providers, would allow massive savings, perhaps enough to lower our school taxes. Wisconsin has led the way in this reform, and here is a link to explain further.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/07/wisconsin-schools-buck-union-cut-health-costs
Michigan teacher unions have the same deal going with MESSA, and that is going to start changing soon as the teachers would rather have more money in their own pockets than give it to their union via the union owed MESSA. See link
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/08/teachers_in_some_districts_ret.html