“The Central Park Five was right, but they were prosecuted and spent time in jail,” he said. Boise Kimber took a similar tack, comparing Birks to five teenagers who were wrongfully arrested for a rape in 1989. After Mauro-Sheridan School teacher Melody Gallagher argued that just because the contract allows for something it isn’t necessarily right, invoking Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela as people who were right, but nevertheless acted against the law and the norms, Rev. Robin Godwin-Miller said the union contract is what allows for Birks to make transfers, so the anger at the superintendent is misplaced.
“I sit back and let the superintendent do her job, and I don’t like what I see, because our kids are being affected,” she said.īirks’ defenders said the superintendent should be allowed to fulfill her contract. Parent Maritza Casanova, who was one of the earliest community critics of hiring Birks, said she took the advice to allow Birks to do her job. That call: fire the superintendent.įormer board member Jamell Cotto was the first to speak, and he said his vote to hire Birks “was a monstrosity of a mistake.” With the issue of teacher cuts out of the way, many of the 34 members of the public who spoke Monday showed up to amplify a call made by the community group NHPS Advocates, which is led by parents and teachers who have demanded accountability and transparency from the board and district staff. She told the board she hopes the result from last year is not replicated again at the next board meeting. The students thanked the board for their decision.Įngineering and Science University Magnet School teacher Kirsten Hopes-McFadden told the board that one year ago, after voting to table 36 library media specialist and school counselor lay offs to community acclaim, two weeks later they took a vote to lay off 26 educators. One other teacher, Bob Osborne of Hill Regional Career High School, accompanied four students from his school who organized a student walk out, which put more attention on the issue and essentially forced a response from the district. “I don’t feel great going back,” she said. “Removing me from your teaching force, for whatever reason, it is cruel,” said James Hillhouse High School teacher Angie Catalano, adding that she believes she’ll be returning to a hostile work environment now that she feels targeted.Ĭooperative Arts and Humanities High School teacher Mindi Englart said she received “a one-minute conversation” from her principal before being kicked out of her office when she was notified her job would be eliminated. Two of the 53 teachers told the board that, now that the dust had settled, they don’t feel relieved. But board President Darnell Goldson, who had filed paperwork to run for reelection about two hours earlier, said that it’s the board’s responsibility to accept personnel action. Board member Matt Wilcox said that the budget deficit must be closed somehow, and Superintendent of Schools Carol Birks has the contractual right to transfer teachers. What burden of proof could principals offer that the cuts weren’t retaliatory? Why were entire course offerings at some schools being compromised by the proposed transfers? Was the social-emotional health of students considered when the plan was proposed?Īfter outcry from the community, all but one board member was prepared Monday to reject the transfers.
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