RIFs at your school? Janney, Shepherd, Stoddert, others?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to determine which schools are affected by the upcoming DCPS RIF and by how much. Just curious, as my children are now charter. Reading the website of several schools, in the on line school newsletters of Janney, Shepherd, and Stoddert, the principals say the RIF will impact their school.

Who's being laid off? New just in the building teachers? Or teachers that have been on the "hope we don't get her/him" list for years? Or not classroom teachers but special teachers? aides? instructional coaches?

What's the impact? Much larger class size? Combined classes (e.g., a 4th grader teacher let go and instead of 2 4ths, and 2 5ths, the school now has 1 4th, 1 4/5 and 1 5th)?

[Anonymous]

My guess is that it will depend on how well each principal knows how to work the system in DC.

[Anonymous]

Here's link to memo to principals on how to do RIF. from washington teacher blog. it's long and detailed.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B3TIobK_N4nvODM4NTFiOGEtY2ZlNi00ZmFjLThlYzUtOTgwYmIyZWUwNWUy&hl=en

[Anonymous]

Mann will have to cut $250K and 3 staff, but not teachers.

[Anonymous]

Lafayette (where Fenty kids go) will not have any cuts and will receive additional funding.

excerpt from principal's newsletter:

http://www.lafayettehsa.org/images/TB/tb092209.pdf

We continue to be not just the largest elementary school in DCPS but one of the largest schools overall. The result of all this is that while many schools are facing severe budget issues right now, Lafayette really is not. Those additional students cushioned the effect of any budget cuts other schools may be undergoing. We are actually in line to receive some limited additional funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette (where Fenty kids go) will not have any cuts and will receive additional funding.

excerpt from principal's newsletter:

http://www.lafayettehsa.org/images/TB/tb092209.pdf

We continue to be not just the largest elementary school in DCPS but one of the largest schools overall. The result of all this is that while many schools are facing severe budget issues right now, Lafayette really is not. Those additional students cushioned the effect of any budget cuts other schools may be undergoing. We are actually in line to receive some limited additional funding.

Now, isn't this nice We are at Janney and the principal implied that the school will be affected. I am assuming that the cuts will come from the non-teaching staff becasue I cannot see where they have excess teachers.

[Anonymous]

So far I have learned that LANGDON lost one PreK teacher...(so we now the school has only 1 PreK class with 20 students instead of 2 classes with 10 kids)

[Anonymous]

The reason why Lafayette isn't get budget cut is not because it has special status (fenty or no fenty) but because they had a big enrollment increase and there is funding associated with each child enrolled. So they are entitled to more funding based solely on this even after applying the bduget measures just introducted.

[Anonymous]

Murch is another school that is over enrollment projections, but apparently will have budget cuts, per the princpal:

http://www.murchschool.org/Connect_ed_messages.html

We sent a letter from Chancellor Rhee home with students, and it will soon be posted on the website as well. You may have already heard that reductions made necessary by cuts to all budgets throughout the city, including education, will impact almost all schools in DCPS. Schools always go through an equalization process this time of year, when schools that have fewer students than projected lose some of their budget, and schools with more students have budget gains. This year, however, schools also have an across-the-board budget cut to address. Murch is no exception. But fortunately, our across-the-board cut is not as deep as it could have been due to the fact that we came in over projected enrollment. We will not have to change our grade structures, combine classes, or give up services to students. I met with the LSRT co-chairs on Monday to discuss the situation and also briefed the entire LSRT on what would be happening. Please understand that I can only make recommendations that must be approved for reductions, and that I am unable to discuss specifics due to the confidentiality of personnel actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far I have learned that LANGDON lost one PreK teacher...(so we now the school has only 1 PreK class with 20 students instead of 2 classes with 10 kids)

20 kids in pre-k has been the norm at Lafayette for some time now. Any school that is significantly over its enrollment projections will not feel the impact of these budget cuts as much as other schools. And some of the schools with active PTA's will raise the $$$ to fill the gaps.

[Anonymous]

Well, it seems that based on the Murch letter, Lafayette did receive special status (fenty or no fenty).

[Anonymous]

The Murch Newsletter dated 9/25 says $184,000 must be cut by Oct.1. I can't find it on the website or i'd link it.

[Anonymous]

What's happening at Oyster? I cannot believe they still get two teachers per classroom!

[Anonymous]

Lynn Main, the principal at lafayette has been there a long time and is excellent at working the DC system. She knows exactly how to get the most from downtown. I know Murch has a new principal who may not be as adept yet at playing the DC game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lynn Main, the principal at lafayette has been there a long time and is excellent at working the DC system. She knows exactly how to get the most from downtown. I know Murch has a new principal who may not be as adept yet at playing the DC game.

The above does little to inspire confidence in any actual fairness of the system itself. Are we to believe that some children are more equal than others?