The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees approved a reduction in force (RIF) as a way to deal with its financial emergency. Last year, the District overspent the budget by nearly $64 million. The District is on par to have a budget shortfall of nearly $84 million unless we take immediate action to reduce expenditures. Thus, the majority of the cost reductions will be in employee payroll.

This will have a tremendous impact on our dedicated Dallas ISD employees. Administrators have implemented a plan that will reduce staff expenditures in such a way that it will have the least impact on classroom instruction, yet still maintain a high level of educational delivery for our students.

Approximately 250 positions at the central office level have been eliminated. Nearly 40 assistant principals and 10 counselors will be released. We were planning to eliminate nearly 550 teacher positions. We will now reduce about 465 teacher positions. Nearly 200 teachers chose to either retire or resign from the District, accepting a settlement offer, and saving other teachers’ positions. If teachers and other contract employees accept the settlement offer, agreeing not to appeal their RIF, they will be paid through the 2008 fall semester, January 16, 2009, including benefits. Non-contract employees who accept the settlement offer, agreeing not to file grievances on their RIF, will be paid through October 31, 2008, including benefits.

Workforce Solutions of Greater Dallas and the Dallas Regional Chamber will sponsor a job fair on October 21, 2008, at the Dallas Convention Center, Ballroom C, from 10:00 – 3:00 pm. On-site interviews with school and business recruiters will be available. I wish our employee good luck as they seek employment with other school districts, and other businesses.

If you were selected for the RIF, I want to hear from you. Tell me your story. Speak up, and speak out.