By Boris Chumak
On April 9, scores of parents, teachers, and community leaders rallied on the steps of the D.C. City Council to oppose the FY13 Budget for Public Education. The budget threatens to reduce special education services, increase class sizes and seriously undermine the academic achievements of D.C. public school students.
During the rally, Councilmember Vincent Orange noted that the removal of librarians, media specialists and special education coordinators is unacceptable. Councilmember Orange has always been a strong advocate for D.C. teachers and last month introduced legislation to reimburse teachers who were unjustly furloughed.
Councilmember Phil Mendelson also joined the rally and told the crowd that as a D.C. parent, he is gravely concerned about the consequences of removing special education coordinators, librarians and media specialists from D.C. schools.
While the rally is a step in the right direction, much work remains ahead. D.C. parents, teachers and community leaders must urge legislators to revisit these critical issues and exercise their authority to challenge decreases in services for special and general education students in D.C. Public Schools. Removing special education coordinators, librarians and media specialists at the cost of student achievement is something that no D.C. parent or teacher should ever accept.
It worries me that DCPS continues to make rash decisions without thinking through the plan. Why do you disrupt services to children and families now that you have a track record that you can be proud? StIck with the plan that is currently working for you and improve on it.
Concerned Parent, you are absolutely right. We need to stick to the plan and urge the mayor and our political leaders to do the same. What we need now is action, so we are writing our legislators and letting them know how crucial these issues are. Please write your legislator and let them know! Follow this link for a pretyped letter you can email: http://action.aft.org/c/467/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=4056
And dont forget to sign our petition here: http://action.aft.org/c/467/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=4063
Energized!
My first demonstration and I did not get shot or pepper sprayed. In fact, the most radical dude there was the police officers union president Chris Boman. The union folks had a bagpiper and some more interesting stuff. I dreamed of being a police officer, firefighter, and teacher when I was a kid. Today I felt in unison with all. I was psyched up. My students will hear about this tomorrow. I stayed the whole time and learned some stuff. We made a splash in the pool of justice for ourselves and students today. Did you see the city council members who showed up. They were interesting. Somebody answer me this, we are working with the principals union. Huh. What strange bedfellows.
I am a Special Education Coordinator and I am disgusted with the fact that DCPS has not, until late this evening, written one thing to SEC’s. Any news we heard had to come second, third and fourth hand from colleagues. It is very clear that people downtown, who have been in the school system for ten minutes, are making decisions about the lives of children without regard to the people who must do this job each and everyday. If you think one worker (psychologist) will be able to wear as many hats as they have been given for SY 2012…DCPS Managers, you are sadly mistaken!
This decision will cost the district a great deal of money via lawsuits and press coverage.
Troubled Advocate, your voice is so important in this issue. Let your legislator know about this issue! Follow this link for a pretyped letter you can email: http://action.aft.org/c/467/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=4056
And dont forget to sign our petition here: http://action.aft.org/c/467/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=4063
Thank you!