Laid-off teachers rehired as subs
Some asked to return to class, fill lesser positions at cut rate
Albany Some Albany city school district teachers and staff who on Friday told students they would not be returning to work Tuesday because their jobs had been cut were then offered positions as substitutes at a lesser per diem rate, the Times Union confirmed Monday.
“We are currently reviewing the many instances that have been reported to us of members who were laid off only to be asked to then long-term sub for their “cut” positions,” Albany Public School Teachers Association (APSTA) tweeted Monday morning.
More than 200 teachers, administrators and staff have lost their jobs due to a massive budget shortfall created by anticipated cuts to state aid.
Several teachers reached out to the Times Union with similar complaints
about being rehired in lower-paying jobs.
Albany Superintendent Kaweeda Adams said that the district is looking to hire eight substitutes and that teachers who lost their jobs were offered the positions based on the union's reverse seniority agreement.
"We are not hiring teachers at a lesser rate or filling teaching positions with substitutes," Adams said. "They were positions that would need to be filled with substitutes anyway because (the teachers) were on maternity leave and family medical leave. ... Our goal is to rebuild and reinstate as much of our instructional program as we can."
Laura Franz, APSTA’S president, said the union is trying to verify the claims and look into whether they violate collective bargaining terms. She noted that many have been asked to return as long-term substitutes for positions that weren’t theirs, which would be in line with the preferred eligibility requirement.
“We are working with our members to try and address this in a more compassionate way,” Franz said. “My hope was
and still is to explore different solutions with district leadership by which we can find a more humane separation for these members of our district.”
Several out-of-work educators also told the Times Union that their final paycheck on Friday was significantly smaller than they had anticipated. District officials told them it was due to health insurance deductions that were not taken in July and August. One teacher who expected to be paid $1,800 said he only got $25. Another was paid $125. A third teacher got 68 cents.
Support staff who lost their jobs, represented by Albany Public Schools United Employees, said they also found unexpected deductions on their final paychecks associated with time off and benefits.
We are working with our members to try and address this in a more compassionate way.”
Laura Franz APSTA president