DOE implements teacher hiring freeze

May 6, 2009 5:54 PM

On May 6, the city Department of Education announced a teacher hiring freeze and directed principals to fill vacancies from current DOE staff via the open market or from the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) pool.

UFT President Randi Weingarten responded with the following statement:

We are gratified that the Department of Education is implementing a teacher hiring freeze and taking steps to fill school vacancies with veteran educators who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are now working in the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) pool. We have been calling for these measures since last October and we reasserted them when Mayor Bloomberg first raised the possibility of teacher layoffs due to budget concerns. We often criticize the Mayor and the chancellor when we think it is warranted. Now they deserve credit for trying to find permanent positions for these dedicated educators who are much better utilized as full-time teachers. With shortfalls in school budgets, it is imperative that every dollar be spent wisely and to best effect. This policy will avoid a waste of talent and money and get these skilled educators back into the classroom.