Story posted Thursday, January 21, 2010
Save Jobs, Use Reserves, Says 207 Community
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter
It took a big budget axe to energize, and unite, the Maine Twp. High School District 207 community.
Nearly 2,000 teachers, students, coaches, parents, alumni, and residents packed the Maine East High School auditorium Wednesday night, Jan. 20, to protest the district's proposal to lay off more than 130 teachers and staff members to reduce a $19 million budget deficit.
They had a variety of reasons for saying it, but their message was simple and consistent: "Use the financial reserves that the community has provided for you, and preserve the jobs, our students are worth it." Or, put another way, "We understand you have to reduce expenses, but don't do it by cutting out so many teachers, the district's most precious and important assets."
Five members of the District 207 Board of Education and five top-level administrators sat for more than four hours and got an earful from more than 75 speakers, many of whom delivered strongly emotional statements. It was a spontaneous outpouring of the strong feelings and bonds that have been developed among students and teachers who spend four years together in high schools. The rhetoric spoke volumes about the important relationships students form at school in the important formative years between adolescence and adulthood.
The board is scheduled to vote Feb. 2 on staff recommendations for $10 million in reductions among non-certified staff, programs, and facilities. A final vote on the proposed 75 certified staff reductions is scheduled to take place in March.
Main focus of the evening was on the proposal to cut 75 certified teaching jobs from the 2010-11 budget to save $5 million next school year as part of a $15 million cost reduction plan. The protests came from virtually every area of the district's comprehensive educational program - English, social science, science, applied arts, fine arts, libraries, math, physical education, coaches, special education, and even safety monitors.
It is finals week in the district, and most students left the meeting right after speaking to study for an exam.
"This is not about dollars or numbers, it is about people," said Emma Visee, a teacher in the district's Alternative Education program in Morton Grove and president of the Maine Teachers Association (MTA), the union that represents the district's approximately 575 certified teachers. "This proposal begs the question, who was watching the store when this developed?" (This got a standing ovation from the audience). "Why do you think you are worse off than other districts in the suburbs? No other district is doing this and they all suffer from the bad economy. Thirty veteran teachers will be retiring in the next year. You are cutting out the legion of the next generation of younger teachers. Don't waste these resources. Tap into the resources the community has provided." She referred to reserve funds that reportedly total about $86 million right now.
Here are some typical statements from students:
* "Let students have more of a voice in board meetings, and keep us informed better," said a Maine South student. "Don't cheapen our schools by firing teachers who make our schools great."
* We will have to overfill classrooms and reduce student-teacher interaction which is the most important part of our education," said a Maine East student. "You are violating your own mission statement, which is to provide a quality education that inspires students and prepares them for college and life."
* "The district will no longer have a variety of extra-curricular activities," said a Maine East freshman. "They make our schools so much better."
* "Our orchestra teacher comes in at 6 a.m. and often doesn't leave until midnight," said a Maine West fine arts student. "How many of you do that in your work?"
* "In four years at Maine West, I have met two teachers who have made a huge difference in my life. Now I find out they are scheduled to lose their jobs. Please explore other options before you do this."
* "Practice what you preach about teachers, preserve their jobs," said another.
* "There is no way I would be at Northwestern University now if it wasn't for several teachers at Maine East who worked with me and taught me so much and made me believe I could get up in front of a crowd like this and speak," said James Kelly, who is studying mechanical engineering. He was an all-conference soccer player at East the last two seasons.
* "This is the first time I am doubting the way my school district spends its money," said a Maine South student.
* "You say you are trying to make the district better for students," said a Maine West student. "How does cutting out fine arts teachers from our outstanding program accomplish that?"
About 25 members of the Maine West coed fencing program came to the microphone. Through a couple of spokespersons and coach Rachel Dean, they strongly protested a proposal to move their sport to intramural status and eliminate funding for travel, equipment, and tournament fees. "You say we can still fence, but intramural doesn't allow us to compete at a varsity level in our conference, we are losing a team," said one athlete.
* "A broken arm didn't stop me from fencing recently, I don't think a broken budget should prevent others from fencing now and in the future," said another fencer.
* One student asked all of the students who will be adversely affected by losing a teacher to stand, and several hundred students rose to their feet.
* "The teachers did not create this situation, why are they being asked to pay for it?" said a Maine East teacher.
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