Last week, Chicago Public School teachers were downtown picketing the school board's decision to delay their scheduled 4 percent pay hike. This weekend, the news hit that many will be receiving layoff notices. Laying off 1000 teachers is one way the Chicago Public Schools expects to begin tackling a $712 million budget deficit. But the situation may not be as bad as it sounds, the Tribune suggests.
As for the layoffs, tenured teachers who have lost their jobs because of enrollment issues or school closings will receive full pay for one school year, district officials said. Probationary teachers are eligible to become substitutes for one school year.
But tenured teachers fired for budgetary reasons are not promised a salary and benefits. Under a new board policy, they are eligible for day-to-day substitute jobs and will be given help to apply for vacant positions and establish online hiring profiles.
Seems CPS often lays off big numbers, but hires many of them back as the year rolls along. There are various reasons for that, but many will eventually be back, if this year is like other years:
The district announces such layoffs annually, and some teachers may eventually be recalled as principals find money through fundraising or grants, or as teachers apply for other positions in the district. Altogether, 3,000 teachers were laid off last year for various reasons. Officials said of the 1,200 teachers laid off to fill the budget deficit in last summer, 65 percent of them were rehired.
