Vol. 74/No. 14      April 12, 2010

While the lively demonstration took place outside the school system building, the Boston School Committee was approving the 2011 education budget inside, eliminating 292 employees—including 11 teachers, 10 teachers’ aides, 83 custodians, 10 administrators, and 45 clerks.

The budget also bars principals from replacing some teachers who retire or who leave the district for other reasons and puts on hold more than $5 million worth of repair projects. The school committee budget must now be approved by the Boston City Council to take effect.

About 30 school bus drivers, members of United Steelworkers Local 8751, were cheered as they marched as a contingent into the rally.

“They’re trying to get rid of staff. The schools are already understaffed,” said Manny Alyes, a custodian for 14 years who currently works at the David Ellis Elementary School in Roxbury. Currently there are 404 custodians and 135 public schools in the city. The cuts represent a 20 percent reduction in the number of custodians.

Signs made by the custodians union demanded, “Keep Boston schools clean, healthy and safe for our children.” Many people carried signs printed by the BTU that read, “Budget Cuts Hurt Kids” and “Underfunded means Underperforming.” The state has declared 35 Massachusetts schools “underperforming.” Schools superintendent Carol Johnson announced she was replacing five principals in 12 schools, and teachers at six of the 12 schools would have to reapply for their jobs.

When the room where the school committee was meeting was reaching its seating capacity, cops closed the doors and would not let more people enter. The rally then moved to the back of the building outside the windows of the room where the school committee was meeting. Chants of “No more cuts” grew louder and some jumped up on the window ledges and taped the BTU’s placards to the windows so the school committee could read them.

Laura Garza contributed to this article.
 
 
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