Mar 12, 2008 9:59 pm US/Eastern
Miami-Dade School Teachers Protest Insurance Cut
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The Miami-Dade School Board faces a tough challenge. It has to cut $31 million from the remainder of this school year and must cut $200 million for the 2008-09 school year.
"This district is in dire straits, and I will not preside over its demise nor fail to balance the budget," said Superintendent Rudy Crew.
Crew recommends cuts from the top down, making him no exception. He suggests taking away the company cars, and even administrators giving back some of the paid days off. His proposed cuts would also mean losing funding for field trips and summer school. Some sports would be completely eliminated, while the price of school lunches would go up.
Board member Dr. Marta Perez says the superintendent is going in the right direction, but should look to cut more from the administrative level before making changes that will hurt students.
"Many of these cuts are necessary, but I question why they were put out there, and yet the cuts that were made, some were at the school level," said Perez.
Last week, teachers' aides who were paid hourly were let go from schools.
As the cuts loom, teachers were protesting a proposal Wednesday evening, that would make them pay for their health insurance. The top tier service is now provided for free, but could cost $53 a month starting next year.
"Teachers are always placed last in the equation, and we can't be placed last anymore," said Karen Aronowitz, of the United Teachers of Dade. "When you take money away from our benefits, it really takes away from the pittance we're earning as professionals in our schools."
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