Students walk out after District 300 (Chicago burb) cuts 363 teachers - WGN video

[Bozita]

This report aired on the noon newscast about 15 minutes ago. Video is at the link:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-district-300-teacher-layoffs-mar24,0,862613.story

Students walk out after District 300 cuts 363 teachers
Pat Curry
WGN News
11:48 a.m. CDT, March 24, 2011


ALGONQUIN, Ill.— Students staged a walkout this morning after the school board in northwest suburban District 300 decided to lay off 363 teachers during a crammed and raucous meeting.

Hundreds of students walked out of classes at Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin to protest the decision by Community Unit School District 300, which has about 30 schools in Algonquin, Carpentersville, Hampshire, Lake in the Hills, East Dundee, West Dundee and Gilberts.

Board members voted 4-3 for the layoffs Wednesday night to bridge a $5 million budget deficit. The teachers will be laid off at the end of the school year. But officials said about half could return for the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year.

The board said the layoffs would affect teachers with one to seven years of experience, but would exclude those who teach bilingual , language and special education classes.

One of the parents at the meeting spoke out against the layoffs. "Would you want an inexperienced doctor or lawyer working on your family? If the answer is no, you cannot fire experienced teachers," he said.

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[Snoutport]

1. we need a nationwide walkout....

if we are going to save public schools.

[dhill926]

2. wow.....that's the school district I attended......

good for them. Back in the day we protested the dress code....(that day was a LONG time ago....)