DPS Employees React To Layoff Letters
DETROIT (WWJ) - It's difficult to plan for the future. That's what some Detroit Public Schools teachers are saying, Friday, after the entire teaching staff began receiving layoff notices.
"Looking ahead to things... (like) travel, none of that. Vacations are on hold," one DPS employee said.
"That can't be good for morale at all -- just the notice coming in the coming in the mail. It can't be good," said another.
"There's no way you can plan for your future -- not working for DPS these days," one teacher said.
"I feel like we're not appreciated ... year after year. But what can we do?"
Talking with WWJ's Mike Campbell outside Detroit's Henry Ford High School, other teachers were in better spirits before class on Friday.
"This is our future. Our students are our future. So, I'm optimistic," a female DPS employee said.
"The good thing for me is, I have another career. I was a lab tech for 17 years and I'm glad that I have that experience, so, if this doesn't work out, I do have a Plan B," said another.
DPS Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb said the layoff notices are necessary to deal with declining enrollment as well as reducing funding from the state.
The teachers' union contract requires those notices to be issued 60 days in advance, though it's not yet clear how many layoffs will actually occur.
