D.C. Teachers’ Late Win Against Rhee

The following is a reposting from Mike Klonsky’s blog.

D.C. public schools are being saddled with a $7.5 million settlement for the first 75 teachers Michelle Rhee fired during her reign of terror AND they must be offered their jobs back. Perhaps other districts will think twice before buying into similar search and destroy “reforms.”

Rhee's trail of destruction

 

Former D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee left a trail of devastation in her wake when she left town. In December, the contractor she hired to run Dunbar High School, was given the boot. And yesterday, an arbitrator ruled that the first 75 teachers Rhee fired must be given about $7.5 million in back wages and offered positions with D.C. Public Schools. It's estimated that with an average annual salary of $50,000, each teacher would cash in on $100,000 -- costing the school system $7.5 million while the city faces a $545 million deficit in fiscal 2012.

Take heed Florida. Rhee is now advising and "permanently partnering" with your T-bagger Gov. Scott on how best to fire teachers and privatize the schools. Take note also Arne Duncan who lost what little credibility his own reform initiative had when he staked it all on Rhee's success in D.C.