Employee for Birmingham City Schools speaks out on job cuts - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports
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After all the bickering and the indecisiveness, it comes down to this. The Birmingham Board of Education is meeting to vote on a plan to cut 12 million dollars from the system. If it says no the state is ready to take over the system.
ABC 33/40 spoke with an instructional aide who found out late last night that her name is on this list. She says if these proposals go through, she doesn't know how she'll finish putting her daughter through college.
"This is the reason why I'm working. She's my reason. She's covered by my insurance. And if I don't have a job, I have no insurance. She's really my main concern," Marva Jones' daughter, Terica Johnson, is a junior at Auburn University. Jones supports Terica financially. But the call she received last night could change everything.
"Your name is on the cut list'. And it really took me for shock," she said.
Jones has been an instructional aide for special education students for six years. Her name, a long with some 74 others, is listed in red the cut list. It indicates that her position will be eliminated, and she has been recommended for termination under a reduction in force.
"It's hurts like hell, it really does. I love doing my job. I'm dedicated to what I do," she said.
School Board member April Williams says tough decisions had to be made.
"It's just unfortunate but these are essential cuts for the district," said Williams.
The "certified" list includes eight positions to be eliminated. On the "classified" list, 75 nurses, aides, clerical positions and public relations positions are on the chopping block.
Representatives from the Birmingham chapter of the Alabama Education Association and American Federation of Teachers say they're disappointed. The cuts affect most lower level positions.
But Williams says, "these are the recommendations that the superintendent made to us. And unfortunately the board members, we had very little input as to what positions they are and we have to trust the administration on that."
Jones sees her name in red, but she offers one last plea.
"Consider us. Consider our situation. We are important to the system as well," she said.
Jones says she has been in touch with the Birmingham AFT. She was assured that, if these proposed plans go through they are willing to take legal action. That goes for the AEA as well. Lance Hyche says they will fight this plan.
Dr. Ed Richardson is head of the state's investigative teams. He feels this plan is best to get Birmingham Schools back on track financially. He says a letter has been sent to the Board stating the state superintendent has the right to take over should they not push this plan trough.
The memo states that in the even that the plan is not approved, the state superintendent is authorized to intervene and assume direct control of the fiscal operation of the Birmingham City Schools.
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