Stimulus should halt special ed layoffs

President Obama mentioned in his March 24 news conference that the economic stimulus plan is providing money to hire teachers. That seems to be true for our U-46 schools if our top administrators prioritize correctly.

School District U-46 has been cutting costs to deal with an expected $17 million deficit. Well over 300 employees that directly help our special education students (special education teachers and teachers assistants) have been notified that they would most likely not be employed here for the 2009-10 school year.

However, a recent news report in this newspaper stated that the district expects to receive $8.5 million of economic stimulus money. I am estimating that will be sufficient to reinstate most if not all of them for the next school year. The U-46 administration needs to confirm that and notify those educators ASAP that they will be needed. The children in the U-46 area need them and it now looks like U-46 will be able to afford them.

Since the money is coming, but could possibly be delayed by government red tape, plans should be made to place it in the education fund when it does arrive and earmarked to be used to pay those special education teachers and assistants.

Donald B. Abbs

Elgin