Hundreds of Teachers "Surplused", Could Lose Jobs - Broward ...

CBS 4 article featuring BTU members facing surplus and layoff.
Hundreds of Teachers "Surplused", Could Lose Jobs
Reporting Carey Codd
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―This is the third time in Debbie Aquino's two year
teaching career at Lauderdale Manors Elementary in Ft. Lauderdale that she's been
called to the principal's office and informed she might not be back for the next school
year.
In school district terms, she's been placed on a list of "surplus" teachers.
"(The school's principal) told me because of the budget cuts I would be surplused for
next year," Aquino said. "It's nerve-wracking because you don't know, because you
have to sit and wait. And you just don't know if you're gonna have a job and what you're
gonna do."
Aquino is one of hundreds of teachers (the Broward Teacher's Union puts the number at
866) that has been informed over the past few weeks that they will not be needed at
their current school next year. The cuts come as a result of the economic crisis and
declining student enrollment. Enrollment is expected to drop by 3,200 students and that
means fewer teachers will be needed.
Many of the teachers on the surplus list will find jobs at new schools, schools where
enrollment increases or they will fill positions left behind by teachers who retire or leave
the district. However, school district officials do not expect to have enough openings to
cover all the surplus teachers and the 200 or so teachers returning to the district from
approved leave. School district officials expect to lay off about 150 teachers.
With only two years of teaching in Broward under her belt, Aquino is in a precarious
position. She knows others with more seniority would be placed in a position before she
would. The most recent hires in the district are laid off first.
"It's hard," she told CBS4's Carey Codd. "I try not to think about it. I'm checking every
penny that I have to make sure I can make it till the next moment."
Lisa Weiss has seven years of experience as a physical education teacher in Broward
County. She transferred to Nova Middle School in Davie this year and was recently
informed by her principal that she is being placed on the surplus list. Union officials say
the teachers on a surplus list are the most recent hires at their school in their particular
department.

"Being seven years in the county, I'm thinking I'm safe," Weiss said. "They're cutting the
last people hired in the county but everything is up in the air and nobody knows
anything."
Weiss said over the past year, she feels like she became part of the family at Nova
Middle. She can't imagine joining the ranks of the unemployed.
"It just doesn't seem fair. It doesn't seem right," Weiss said. "I see people who are
unemployed, who don't have a job and are looking for six months to a year and I'm
thinking, 'Oh no, I don't want to be one of them.'"
Debbie Aquino doesn't want to be one of them, either. She switched careers later in life
to become a first grade teacher and loves her job. When she discusses her students,
she gushes over the success they've achieved throughout the year, learning to read and
write. Aquino also quickly shows off the tiny tokens of appreciations she's received from
her students and their parents, like a vase, a fuzzy pen and even a pair of silver
earrings.
"I know I may be surplused but part of me is praying it won't happen," Aquino said. "Part
of me is praying the stimulus package will come in and salvage some of these
positions."
But Keith Bromery, a spokesman for the Broward County School District, said any
federal stimulus money is not extra money. He explained that federal stimulus dollars
would only be used to fill an existing hole in the budget hole. Bromery said without that
money, the district would be forced to lay off even more people.
The Union expects teachers on the surplus list will begin learning this week where they
will teach next school year, or if they'll teach at all in Broward County next school year.
Bromery said the district must finish the budget process over the next few weeks before
any layoffs will be finalized.