Ethics Gwinnett County School Superintendent
ALICIA M. BOYD
CHAPTER 4 CURRENT EVENTS
BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY BUS115
November 9, 2010
Gwinnett County Schools eliminates 150 teaching jobs the district alleges these non-renewal agreements were based on performance and not budget cuts this was a 163 percent increase over the previous year when only 55 teachers’ agreements were not renewed. Thirteen teachers filed a complaint against Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks in September alleging their jobs were eliminated for reasons other than performance issues, many of the teachers during their tenure have received stellar reviews, advanced degrees, district paid certifications and were even offered new contracts, after the district officials had stated there would be no layoffs.
An number of the teachers received uncontested unemployment benefits after the Georgia Department of labor’s investigations ruled they were fired without cause. Peter Toggerson of the GAE(Gwinnet County Association of educators) states ” the school system regularly challenges unemployment compensation when teachers are dismissed”.
Many like Tonysha Johnson a former English teacher was shocked when her principal informed her that the agreement was not renewed considering she has never had a negative review, she was recommended to be a mentor for veterans on subjects such as classroom management and supervise student teachers. Johnson was offered the option to resign so that it wouldn’t prevent her from getting another job.
Suzanne Hammontree Maness a former Social Studies department chair wants Gwinnet county schools to admit the real reason for the layoff was the economy, they needed to let go of the higher salary teachers such as her making close to 75k. this way our records can be cleared and we can get jobs .
Maness has been teaching for 22 yrs. and was about to receive her tenure prior the cut. Walton and DeKalb county schools have rejected some teachers due to their non-renewal status with the county. Sloan
CHAPTER 4 CURRENT EVENTS
BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY BUS115
November 9, 2010
Gwinnett County Schools eliminates 150 teaching jobs the district alleges these non-renewal agreements were based on performance and not budget cuts this was a 163 percent increase over the previous year when only 55 teachers’ agreements were not renewed. Thirteen teachers filed a complaint against Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks in September alleging their jobs were eliminated for reasons other than performance issues, many of the teachers during their tenure have received stellar reviews, advanced degrees, district paid certifications and were even offered new contracts, after the district officials had stated there would be no layoffs.
An number of the teachers received uncontested unemployment benefits after the Georgia Department of labor’s investigations ruled they were fired without cause. Peter Toggerson of the GAE(Gwinnet County Association of educators) states ” the school system regularly challenges unemployment compensation when teachers are dismissed”.
Many like Tonysha Johnson a former English teacher was shocked when her principal informed her that the agreement was not renewed considering she has never had a negative review, she was recommended to be a mentor for veterans on subjects such as classroom management and supervise student teachers. Johnson was offered the option to resign so that it wouldn’t prevent her from getting another job.
Suzanne Hammontree Maness a former Social Studies department chair wants Gwinnet county schools to admit the real reason for the layoff was the economy, they needed to let go of the higher salary teachers such as her making close to 75k. this way our records can be cleared and we can get jobs .
Maness has been teaching for 22 yrs. and was about to receive her tenure prior the cut. Walton and DeKalb county schools have rejected some teachers due to their non-renewal status with the county. Sloan