Birmingham school board submits plan for job cuts - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Birmingham school board submits plan for job cuts

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By Alan Collins - bio | email
Birmingham Board of Education. Birmingham Board of Education.
Birmingham school board member W.J. Maye is opposed to a state takeover of the school system. Birmingham school board member W.J. Maye is opposed to a state takeover of the school system.
Lance Hyche with AEA says the plan submitted by Birmingham school officials puts the lowest paid employees out of their jobs and keeps the high-priced administrators. Lance Hyche with AEA says the plan submitted by Birmingham school officials puts the lowest paid employees out of their jobs and keeps the high-priced administrators.
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -

Birmingham school officials say they will meet a deadline to submit a plan to save money which includes cutting some 200 jobs. The school system is under pressure to come with the plan to cut $12 million from the budget or face a state takeover.

Birmingham board member W.J. Maye says the cuts were not easy.

"It's always tough when you have to lay people off. That part of the rift I really hate. At this point, I hate being on the board to make this kind of decision but tough decisions have to be made," Maye said.

Last week the state school board voted to intervene in Birmingham schools because the school system did not present a plan to cut expenses and build a reserve fund. This was short of a state takeover.

"I do not, I do not, I do not want a state takeover," Maye said.

The Birmingham school board will have to vote officially on the plan next Tuesday. There will be opposition. The Alabama Education Association is not happy with the plan.

"Just as we assumed, the cuts are not where they need to be. The state sold this plan as away to cut high priced administrators. The bulk of the cuts are the lowest paid employees in the district," Lance Hyche with AEA said.

Hyche says the people whose names are on the list of job cuts have not been notified at this point.

"We think the plan protects high-priced administrators. The plan will cut these folks by a little bit in pay. Rearrange their schedule, put them in a different position but they are still going to have a job," Hyche said.

Hyche says most high-priced administrations can be cut instead of those on the lower end of the pay scale.

"They are clerical. They are maintenance. They are the folks we represent. We are going to fight the state on the plan. It's too aggressive and it's not humane."Hyche said.

Monday AEA will bring in lawyers to meet with those losing their jobs and advise them of their rights. The teacher union will ask the Birmingham Board of Education to reject the plan which could open them for a state takeover. But Hyche says if the board okays the plan, they will take the school system to court.