CLEVELAND — Layoff notices began going out to Cleveland Metropolitan School District teachers and paraprofessionals on Friday, according to Cleveland Teachers Union President Errol Savage.
Savage told News 5 that 150 teachers and approximately 120 paraprofessionals have been notified. This includes eight teachers from Hannah Gibbons, which is the entire middle school teaching staff at that East Side elementary school.
"Our students are going to suffer because of this," Savage said. "They'll have larger class sizes. They'll have less adults in front of them working with them, so ... it won't be a good impact."
The layoffs are part of the district's consolidation plan, known as Building Brighter Futures. The district is closing 18 buildings to help save $30 million a year.
Savage said the layoffs are unnecessary, adding that the district is closing 18 buildings, not losing 18 buildings' worth of students.
"I don't know why we have to lay these people off," he said. "We're not in a budget crisis. We're not in a budget deficit. And we haven't lost students."
News 5 asked a school district spokesperson how many educators are being let go, and he declined to provide a specific number. He said notifications began and will continue into next week.
News 5 received a copy of the letter sent to teachers. It said the district is "deeply committed to supporting scholars and employees, but had to make "very difficult financial decisions." It goes on to say that the school district recognizes "the personal and professional impact these decisions may have" and "we are approaching the process with great care and respect for our employees."
The letter says the layoffs will be voted on by the board of education on Tuesday. Teachers are expected to work through the end of the school year.
Savage said the union is meeting with Cleveland Schools CEO Dr. Warren Morgan to reduce layoffs.
Hours after News 5 asked CMSD officials for on-air interviews, the district released a video statement late Friday afternoon in which Morgan called today "a very difficult time for our system" and said the district needs to bring "today's schools and budget in line with today's enrollment and fiscal realities." Morgan said the district is working to provide laid-off staff with job-searching resources.
Last week, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District informed all staff that layoff notices related to its Building Brighter Futures (BBF) school consolidation initiative will be issued no later than Tuesday, April 14.
The district provided News 5 with a copy of the letter, which also said the district will be issuing and announcing significant administrative reductions, including among CMSD Central Office staff, during the same period.
The exact number of layoffs or administrative reductions was not stated in the letter.
Morgan has repeatedly said that consolidation will save money by making better use of resources and help the district improve the academic experience for students across the city.
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