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Updated 02/28/2011 10:54 PM

UFT President Slams Layoff List

By: Lindsey Christ

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The president of the teachers union spoke out Monday against the Department of Education’s teacher layoff list released over the weekend.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew is calling on the mayor to reconsider his plan and to avoid laying any teachers off.

"What the mayor needs to do is to be fighting on behalf of the children,” Mulgrew said. “Because he understands, or if he doesn't understand we will be more than happy to educate him, that class size is a significant crisis that we are facing here in New York City so what we are saying here is Mr. Mayor knock it off, stop playing games, stop politically maneuvering for your own reasons and work with the teachers of this great city."

The list breaks down the 4,700 planned layoffs by school.

According to state law, the newest teachers must be laid off first, so certain schools, especially newer ones, would be hardest hit.

Legislation introduced last week in Albany, and backed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, calls for "Last-In, First-Out" to be replaced by a complicated new layoff procedure targeting nine categories of teachers.

They include those who rated unsatisfactory, those found guilty of misconduct or incompetence, anyone convicted of a crime, and those with Teacher Data Report Card scores in the bottom 30 percent for two years or more.

The layoffs would affect teachers in all subject areas – except special education, English as a Second Language, and speech.

Nine percent of elementary school teachers would be laid off, as well as 15 percent of all art, music gym and library teachers.

Mayor Bloomberg on Monday defended his decision to release this information, saying parents and teachers need to be prepared.

"You're playing with fire here. Once we send out layoff notices, which we are going to have to do soon because of all the court challenges, we've got to give teachers who are going to get laid off, or might get laid off, the courtesy of telling them who they are, and if they have to make other plans," said Bloomberg. "Shame on us if we then find the money, they won't be available. So now's the time."

According to the list, more than 100 schools would lose 25 percent or more of their teachers, with teachers in the South Bronx suffering heavily.

One of the schools that would be devastated under the proposal is the Columbia Secondary School in Harlem. According to the Department of Education's projections, the school would lose 14 out of only 20 teachers.

Parents say they’re in disbelief.

"Well I don't think it’s very fair, especially since we have some of the brightest teachers in this school and they are very dedicated to the student body,” said one parent.

"Sometimes keeping those that were here the longest is not always the best policy. In this day and time, you need people that have new ideas, new minds because there’s new things coming up, new technology,” said another. “So, I go with the policy of keep the ones that’s best, that’s been progressive."

Not all schools are suffering; 325 are being spared completely.

Meanwhile, angry teachers showed up to a town hall meeting in Brooklyn Monday to let Schools Chancellor Cathie Black know their concerns about the proposed layoffs.

Black spoke in front of a hostile audience of teachers and parents who are part of Community Education Council District 14.

Teachers who spoke with NY1 say it's time to come together to make sure the city does what's right for children.

"I think we're all hearing what's going on in the news and we have grave concerns. I think we are all at our wits end as are parents as are principals and we need to mobilize at this point," said teacher Joanne Strauss.

During the meeting, Black said class sizes will rise after the layoffs, but wouldn't say by how much.