Let's See, Who's Retiring This Year?

Governor Douglas's decision to cut 400 state employees through attrition may make complete sense.  Unfortunately, cutting through attrition, while common,  is a harmful practice in Vermont schools.

At times, when administrators and school boards feel intense pressure to make budget cuts, the cuts come in the form of not filling vacancies in teaching positions. Perhaps it's being nice.  Perhaps it's being cowardly.  But the practice ignores the needs of the students. 

Academic programs should be staffed according to student needs.  Programs that make sense should be staffed.  Ones that don't should be cut.  Schools are not the WPA.  They are critical institutions charged with preparing our students for the 21st century.

Comments

[Lazarus Long]

But I thought that the schools were the WPA.

[G. Cross]

Curt, we agree! Decisions regarding staffing in any organization should be made based on the primary mission of that organization. This is true of state government, public schools and business in general. Governor Douglas is taking the easy way out by suggesting that attrition can account for the needed job cuts. The real question is not who is leaving for a better job, or who is retiring, but what jobs are necessary to fulfill the mission of the organization. But such decisions take hard work and courage. Nothing indicates that the Douglas administration, nor the legislature for that matter, are ready to make those tough decisions.