RIF: Questions and Answers
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 18:24.
It's official. Teachers are going to be RIF'd.
Non contract employees will be terminated on October 9. Those with contracts will be given a pink slip from October 10 through 17.
Good advice: "DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING before you've talked to your representative."
"We're trying to make a horrible situation somewhat palatable," she Aimee Bolender, President of AFT/Alliance.
This is a thread to post questions and get answers.
Please don't post complaints, comments, criticisms or other things to clutter it up. That way we can keep it to "information flow" without distractions.
Rena Honea has agreed to answer questions. I expect Aimee, Diane Reed and Dale Kaiser will as well.
So please click on "Read more" and post your questions.
Can I get all my money now?
I'm part of the RIF. I want to be paid everything upfront. I could really us this money now to help me move to a new location and find a job. Anyone know if this is an option?
If someone is riffed will
If someone is riffed will they be able to count this year as a whole year for retirement purposes. Yes, I know that those who voluntarily retired get to count this year but not sure about whether a riffed person is also allowed.
class size
Has the district been granted a waiver to have class sizes over the state mandates? We are hearing rumors of primary classes at 24 to 26 students. How will this be possible?
DISD Safe Landing
Thank goodness DISD has provided the innocent DISD employees a web page entitled DISD Safe Landing where fired and RIFed (which also means FIRED) employees can seek solace with the step by step outline of what you can do if this unfortunate (not unavoidable) event impacts you, your family, your livelihood, your long term investments, your ability to provide food, clothing, and shelter for yourself/family, your commitment and loyalty to an underpaid and underappreciated career choice (it has never been made so clear until now)and yeah and the impact on your students (who are obviously very resilient and have an uncanny ability to understand that their teacher was fired because...hmmm. well, because they chose to be a teacher in the DISD. I have a feeling there are going to be some very confused parents and students next week when they show up for parent-teacher conferences and their teacher is no where to be found. But, it'll be okay because kids are resilient and they'll get used to being in classrooms where they will constantly be wondering, when will my new teacher be taken away? Has anyone talked to a student lately. They have thoughts and feelings too.
CEI's
Will the CEI's be used to RIF anyone?
CEI's
Short answer -- NO. Only your latest PDAS evaluation.
Dale D. Kaiser
President
NEA-Dallas
Support Staff
What are the principals going to base themselves on to let go of support staff? And how exactly are they gonna be notified?
Support Staff
We had asked that the support staff decisions at least take in performance evaluations, seniority but got no firm commitment. Support staff are supposed to be notified by their principals, in person, today.
The employees who are notified should contact their union/professional organization BEFORE they sign any paperwork. They have three (3) work days to decide on what to do next.
Dale D. Kaiser
President
NEA-Dallas
RIF and Sick Days
I volunteered to be included in the RIF. May I use the remainder of my sick days at this time?
how?
mismaine,
How did you go about volunteering? I'm going to do the same thing. Did you just go to you principal? Any advice would be great. Thanks!
how?
You can go to your principal and obtain the "Voluntary Resignation" form and possibly the "release agreement" form as well. Fill out the resignation form and deliver it to Human Development. Make sure that they (HD) give you the "release agreement" if your principal did not, fill it out and turn it in. You will also have to fill out an S-54 (obtained from HD) form that officially terminates your employment with the district, effective January 16,2009.
Make sure that you get a copy of each of the documents for your records.
Dale D. Kaiser
President
NEA-Dallas
How?
You can go to the HD department and sign the paperwork there. I believe that you can also get the form from your principal.
Retirement date in January
I've been told by TRS that I am eligible for retirement in January, 2009. What happens if I volunteer to retire now in October. Will I receive my eligibility?
Retirement date in January
If you volunteer now, you will be placed on administrative leave and paid through January 16, 2009. That will give you the year's service credit for 2008-2009 and you could retire in January.
Dale D. Kaiser
President
NEA-Dallas
Retiring
Please see question #13 on the following link:
http://www.dallasisd.org/finances/pdf/HDFAQFinal.pdf
Retirement date in January
I'm not 100% sure about the answer to your question. I would encourage you to contact Mr. Royce Thigpen at the district (I think he is in the HD department). He is very knowledgeable about retirement and he could probably answer your question with certainty.
Districtwide or Campus-Level RIFs?
I am still quite confused (as I suppose most are) as to HOW this RIF is being done. Today our principal explained that she was going to be "leveling" based on certification, appraisals and then seniority. At our campus we do not have any non-certifed staff (except the protected bilingual and special ed), nor any bad apprasials. SO, that leaves it based on seniority. BUT this is at the CAMPUS level. So we are being told that our campus must lose teachers and since we do not have any "UNQUALIFIED" or "BAD" teachers, the next layer gets to go. How is THIS a district-wide RIF? Sure sounds campus level to me.
Districtwide or Campus-Level RIFs?
As I understand it, there is a staffing formula for each level of schools (elementary, middle, and high). Looking at the actual number of students enrolled on the campus, the formula is applied and the number of surplus positions is identified. The principal should not be "leveling" according to the RIF criterion; leveling has to do with student enrollment. Principals will be receiving training on this whole process and they were told last week not to discuss the RIF until notified. It appears that many administrators have "jumped the gun" and given out incorrect information. If someone at your campus is RIF'd or moved to another campus, they are encouraged to go to their union office and verify the decision made.
Retiring this year anyway
My wife is in the TRS DROP program. If she volunteered to be RIFed, besides her DISD pay and benefits continuing through January 16th, would this stop TRS from continuing DROP deposits through January?
(After losing 130 days sick leave buyout, this would be another big hit.)
Aimee
Aimee B has been more of an advocate for the board & superintendent than teachers. She needs to go too!
Carlos Quintinilla
There was a grassroots organizational meeting yesterday at Munger Methodist Church. Alliance was invited and declined to attend. Now tell me what you guys are paying for every month? Your Dallas Achieves/AFT President has shown you whom she supports. When will you believe?
Pay through January 16, 2009
Will the pay through January 16, 2009 be the same amount of pay that we are receiving now? For example if my salary was $50,000 would my salary each month through that time be 1/12 of $50,000?
Pay through January 16, 2009
Your pay will remain the same except for any stipends that you are receiving. The stipends will stop as of this month. Then, in January, your check on the 15th will also include your daily rate for January 16, any money that the district had previously deducted to pay you during the summer, and, any compensation for sick days, etc. not used.
Dale D. Kaiser
President
NEA-Dallas
Pay through January 16, 2009
We were told that your regular salary and benefits would continue through the end of the first semester which is January 16, 2009 if the settlement agreement was signed within the 3 working day time frame. So your paycheck should not change through January 16th.
If I Do Nothing, What Happens?
Assume I'm a classroom teacher and I do nothing. What should I expect? Will someone just walk into my room and tell me I'm fired? Will I be able to explain the situation to my students? What happens to them?
If I Do Nothing, What Happens
My understanding is that in the letter you receive, your last day to report to work will be clear. By not signing the settlement agreement, contract employees will be placed on administrative leave without pay. You will have 3 working days to sign the agreement and during that time you should meet with your employee organization, if you have one, to review the process and make sure that your RIF is correct and was done fairly. If you have grounds for an appeal, then you should begin the appeal process with your organization's assistance. During that 3 day period, you will have time to talk to your students and explain the situation to them. Again, my understanding is that another teacher will be assigned to those students.
concerned new teacher
I am concerned because I may be on of the ones cut because for one I was just hired this July because of a request from my principal and I am working off of a probationary certificate that I acquired through an AC program outside of DISD's. and according to the blog I may be one of the one's that they let go...my concern is who do I need to talk to about whether or not I should take the settlement if I am let go and is the settlement going to be like my full monthly check until Jan. 16th or is it only going to be a portion of my monthly. I can not believe that this is happening they are messing with sooo many peoples livelyhood and families!!!
I just pray that I am not on that list........Please give me some sort of insight as far as what I need to do ( I am just preparing myself just in case the inevitable happens)
Concerned New Teacher
If you are a member of one of the employee organizations (Alliance-AFT, ATPE, or NEA-Dallas), you need to contact their office and talk to someone there once the letter is received. They can help you with your concern. I can tell you that certification is the first criterion looked at. If you are not fully certified in the state of Texas and are on a probationary contract, you may be in the first group to be RIF'd. But understand in the critical teaching areas of math, science, bilingual education, and special education, if there is not a fully certified teacher in the district to fill that position, the AC will be kept in place as the teacher of record for those students. The settlement agreement does include your full salary each month until the end of the semester which is January 16, 2009. Your benefits will also stay in place until that time. You will not report to work after the specified date in your letter and you will have the opportunity to look for other employment.
QUESTION about volunteering to be RIF'd
First, thanks for all you kind people have done.
I have to come to the conclusion that I want out of this District. I'm not near retiring...I just want out. I want to be RIF'd with the same offer extended to me. Maybe I can save a good teacher's job in the process.
Question:
Is this possible? How can I go about this?
I'm just afraid that if it doesn't happen, my principal might hold a grudge.
Thanks!
Question about volunteering to be RIF'd
Your thanks is greatly appreciated and you are more than welcome!
Yes, you will have the same opportunity to resign with the same package that the retirees are being offered. Remember that you will not be able to apply for unemployment benefits. I believe that you can contact the HD department and request a settlement agreement if you don't want to go through your principal. You will receive your salary and benefits through the first semester unless you become employed before January 16, 2009. I'm sure that this is a great sacrifice for you and many will be grateful that you've provided an opportunity for someone to stay. Thanks and good luck to you!
New question about pay...
You stated that we will receive pay 'unless you become employed before January 16, 2009."
Is this correct?
What if I take some part time employment somewhere?
Question about Bumping?
I really don't understand why the district is not allowing a more senior teacher to bump a new hire at the same campus. Shouldn't we have the right to that position over someone else? Why should I have to go to a new campus that may be far from my house if I was able to be placed? Why can't all teachers in the district be ranked by senority for these cuts?
[Ed Note: Let's stay on topic in this thread and keep editorial comments to a minimum. Thanks.]
Question about Bumping
I believe that the intent of those not RIF'd is to keep as many of the teachers at their current campuses as possible. Certification, performance, and then seniority is the sequence that has to be followed according to policy. That's one of the reasons that those receiving RIF letters are strongly urged to contact their employee organization (Alliance-AFT, ATPE, NEA-Dallas, or DSAA)to verify that the process was done correctly.