COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – District 49 leaders are moving forward with a plan to cut 50 positions, from administrators to teachers, citing a financial crisis.
According to documents obtained through the D49 Board of Education website, 50 positions are being cut. The breakdown of how many of each position are being cut follows:
- Educational Support Personnel: 26 positions, including 4 librarians and 4 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Para Educators
- Tenured Teachers: 12 positions
- Professional Technical Personnel: 7 positions
- Administrative Personnel: 2 positions
- Intent to Non-Renew and Alternative Licensed Program Teachers: 2 positions
- Special Service Provider Personnel: 1 position
Jordan Martin is a social studies teacher at Sand Creek High School and the Vice President for the D49 chapter of the Colorado Springs Education Association. He says the union representing teachers did not have a seat at the table when district leaders decided to cut positions.
“There was definitely a deflation of morale,” Martin said. “When you think about who was first on the chopping block, I think a lot of them felt betrayed, they were the ones who dedicated more than a decade of service to the school district. That doesn’t make you feel good as a union member, as a teacher, as a community member because you feel like your voice is largely ignored.”…