UTD article

UTD

Students will celebrate the end of school two days before expected this year as Miami Dade County Public Schools tries to balance its miscalculated budget by deferring two days payment from teachers. 

“So the custodians agreed to it, the bus drivers agreed to it, the techs agreed to it, the administrators agreed to it, but the teachers union did not agree to it- until recently,” says Sidener.

On Friday May 15^th teachers voted 15,504 to 3,980 in favor of the district’s decision to cut teacher pay, with the guarantee that it will be paid back in the fall of the 2009-2010 school year. “This way the school district will avoid laying off teachers while ultimately balancing the budget,” explains Sidener. “Essentially you’re getting paid time off, but you’re deferring the payment until next year.”

             On Monday, May 18^th Superintendant Alberto Carvalho reported to the school board that there will not be a need to fire any teachers with the new budget plan. With teachers deferring payment, the school district will save an approximate $27 million, contributing to its effort to minimize deficit for the end of the year.

While the district would step in to avoid ending the year in debt despite UTD opposition, a “no” vote would express the discontent with the MDCPS decision and reject any benefits proposed by the district.

As part of their three-year contract, teachers have been promised pay raises since 2006. In March of 2009, the district insisted that there was not enough money in the budget and continued to freeze all pay raises for district employees.

With school board promising to return the money, some teachers are skeptical. Some teachers have made their time restrictions clear to their students.

“While most teachers used to be available before 7:30 and during lunch time, there are few who have decided to only allot time to students during teaching hours,” described Taylor Calibo, “they’ll only work when they’re getting paid to work.”

“I trust the superintendent,” says Sidener. “I think he understands that he has asked his employees to put themselves on the line and that his credibility and his ability to do the job will be completely undermined if he doesn’t come through.”