Michigan Boots 40 Teachers -- Occupy!!

Mid-year teacher layoffs in Pontiac shock

hundreds of elementary students

Join educators, parents at press conference Friday afternoon while laid-off teachers pack up their classrooms

PONTIAC, Mich., April 13, 2012 — On Wednesday, nearly 40 teachers in the Pontiac School District were informed they were being laid off.

Effective today.

Set aside the fact that this ignores contract language the district previously agreed to with its employees.

Set aside the fact that this move is happening in light of gross mismanagement of the Pontiac School District by administrators who are under criminal investigation for financial malfeasance.

Set aside the fact that the lives of educators – those laid off and those left behind – are being turned upside down with 48 hours of notice.

Look only at Pontiac’s students and the effect this is going to have on the final 45 days of their school year.

Elementary students – from kindergarten through 6th grade – having to move classrooms, leave classmates, and adjust to new teachers…all with just weeks to go in the school year.  Instantly skyrocketing class sizes – up to 32 in kindergarten and up to 39 in grades 1 through 6.

The Pontiac Education Association invites the media to a press conference at one of the Pontiac Elementary schools affected by these layoffs.  Please, come to see firsthand the impact these mid-year cuts will have on students, parents, educators and the community, as laid-off teachers pack up their classrooms and leave after just two days notice.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Friday, April 13 at 3:45 p.m.

(immediately after school dismissal)

In front of Owen Elementary School

1700 Baldwin Ave., Pontiac, Mich. 48340

(just south of Great Lakes Crossing Mall)

“The mission of the MEA is to ensure that the education of our students

and the working environments of our members are of the highest quality.”