D.C. schools chief ousts 98 central office employees
D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee's decision to fire 98 central office employees is generating a debate among workers and questions from D.C. Council members about the fairness of the process. According to several of the terminated employees, the firings affected numerous departments, including business operations, food service, budget and communications. However, information technology appeared to be the hardest hit, losing about 40 of its 50 employees. Former workers in that unit said Rhee has decided that the functions will be absorbed by the city's IT department. The former employees said they are angry that they were let go despite years of good service. The legislation gives Rhee the right to dismiss them whether they are good or bad performers. They also said they thought the system treated them shabbily in giving them a phone number to call to get information about final pay. Some said they are seeking legal advice. The terminated workers refused to be quoted by name because they officially remain on the school system's payroll for two weeks. “I've been contacted by a substantial number of terminated central office employees interested in exploring legal action,” said Stewart Fried, a lawyer with the Washington office of Kilpatrick Stockton. Fried said he is investigating their grievances to determine whether they have a case. The dismissals were the latest step to remake the troubled school system.
Rhee is in the process of closing 23 schools and reorganizing 27 others whose students consistently scored poorly on standardized tests. In her current contract negotiations, she is pushing to reward teachers whose students make significant academic gains. All of the measures are controversial, but are in keeping with the hard-driving approach Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has taken since he gained control of the schools in June. Rhee gained the authority to fire about 400 in January, but it took those who got the news by surprise. Many expressed similar complaints against Rhee that had been raised by parents and teachers: She and her team are disregarding advice from people about what has and hasn't worked to avoid repeating mistakes.
Source: Washington Post, 3/9/08, By V. Dion Haynes & Sylvia Moreno
[Editor’s Note: The article below reports that the firings will cut the payroll by $6 million, although the net savings will depend on severance pay and the cost of replacing some of the employees. The D.C. Council is requesting more information on the performance evaluations of the terminated employees. Meanwhile, the district is requesting contractor bids to provide food service. Background on the D.C. Council’s passage of legislation changing the central office positions to at-will employees is available starting at the second link.]
Washington Post, 3/12/08, By V. Dion Haynes & Theola Labbé
NSBA School Law pages on D.C. legislation