Parents, Teachers, Union Sound Off on Paraprofessional Layoffs

The means that there will fewer resources for students that need the most help achieving success in school beginning this year, district and union officials said.

The district–which until Monday night employed in excess of 200 part-time paraprofessionals–laid off the employees because of losses in state and federal funds, particularly Title I funding meant to help disadvantaged and challenged learners.

But the effects of the layoffs in and out of the classroom could be extensive–part-time paraprofessionals have lost their jobs and health care benefits, teachers will not be able to depend on assistance from paraprofessionals as much as they once did, and students who are considered vulnerable will have fewer people to turn to when they need help, said Rodger Bartles, the president of the Dearborn Federation of School Employees, which represents the employees laid off.

"The numbers are horrendous,” he said.

“I don’t think the board wanted to do it,” he said of the unanimous vote to cut the paraprofessionals. “We knew there would be some laid off, but we didn’t think it would be this many."

Bartles added that the district should be able to get the parapros back in the classroom after lost Title I money is restored, but it’s unclear when that will occur.

Until then, Bartles said the road could be tough for teachers and the paraprofessionals left behind, who will have to take on more work, and the needs of more students.

“We’re still sorting out how this will work,” he said. “Only time will tell.”

Specific Duties

Although paraprofessionals classified as special education specialized were in a job classification by themselves and were spared from the chopping block Monday, most of the instructional and bilingual paraprofessionals worked with challenged populations of students.

“If the student doesn’t speak English, they translate. If a student needs help getting around because of a physical disability, they help them,” Bartles said. “How can a teacher be able to meet the needs of the that child if they can’t communicate with them?”

Chris Sipperly, the president of the Dearborn Federation of Teachers, also said the paraprofessional layoffs is a blow to the district.

“Parapros offer specialized skills that are needed in many classrooms, and we are concerned about the layoffs,” she said.

Both Bartles and Sipperly said they believe Lansing’s obsession with school cuts are responsible for the job losses.

District Working Out Kinks

It’s not known how the paraprofessionals that are left behind will be deployed into district classrooms once classes begin next month. Dave Mustonen, the spokesman for Dearborn Public Schools, will be providing Dearborn Patch with some answers to those questions soon.

What is clear is that parents and educators alike were taken aback by the layoffs, as evidenced from some of the comments on Dearborn Patch’s Facebook Page.

“This is crazy, said Meghann Sheridan. “Parapros can be a life line for family, students and teachers.”

Linda Charara said parapros are an integral part of the education system for many children.

“As a current paraprofessional myself I can honestly say it's the students who will suffer the most,” she said. “We were able to work with students one on one or in small groups and I saw a huge difference in the those kids by the end of the year.”

Yasmine Sion Farris, a teacher in the DPS district, said on Facebook that in her experience, students "connect with (parapros) on levels that we teachers may not be able to reach."