OR District cuts all classroom assistants to 30 hrs: and wants $400 for benefits

[Snoutport]

David Douglas School District in Portland just cut their classroom assistants to 30 hours (@$10 an hour). Before taxes that is $1200 a month but the district is asking $400 of it back to cover their health insurance.

$1200-30% taxes = $840 - 400= $440. (a weekly earning of $110)

These workers are the life's blood of special education and elementary school. Is this an attempt to gut the teacher's assistants union?

If you feel like making a call... Don Grotting, Superintendent, 503-261-8201

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. Is that even minimum wage?

WTF?

[rucky]

2. The insurance is taken out before taxes.

It still sucks, though.

[Snoutport]

3. They were crying and I felt so bad for them....

But our legislature is voting on a 5 bills that will gut the special ed system here in the state. 25% cut next year, to 50% the year after. Special ed employs most of the educational assitants--so, this pretty much takes out the educational assistants union.

[catabryna]

4. Thanks for posting this...

I've been looking at different areas to move to and now I can officially check this district off the list. My kid is in a SLC and we all know how much those classrooms depend on TAs. That's just terrible.

[Snoutport]

6. I called the mayors office today and said just what you said!

People will hear about this and not want to come to Portland because of the bad name this district is giving the whole city!

[catabryna]

8. This is the area of Portland where I could afford to rent...

it's a shame, because I do love Portland.

[bluesmail]

5. That's Criminal! eom

[Snoutport]

10. i agree nt

[CreekDog]

7. that's poverty

such is the amount our society thinks is appropriate for taking care of our children.

the devil would be proud of us.

[Snoutport]

9. i fear it is to undo the assistants union!

[rucky]

11. The irony is that the $400 buy-in...

puts them below minimum wage and the poverty level - qualifying them for whatever state benefits may be left for them, but they're already paying for.

They are putting these people in an impossible position.

[Snoutport]

12. yes...one of them has a partner who just survived cancer

they are trapped or they lose their insurance.