A teacher who provides “distance learning” under a contract with a regional education cooperative wrote me today to say all distance learning teachers had been non-renewed because of budget cuts.
Not exactly, says the Education Department, but the future isn’t wholly bright. The budget approved by the governor’s office, but not yet final, will cut state grants to district learning centers from $6 to $4 million. Something will have to give. With contract renewal notices to teachers required by May 1, non-renewal notices are going out as a precaution. Some will be rehired. Some won’t. The district centers make the call. There’s nothing to stop a local school district from picking up the cost of teachers who provide supplemental instruction this way. Will they? How many teachers will lose jobs next year? I can’t answer those questions at the moment. Anyone with more insight is welcome to contribute.