DPS Union president cries foul over layoffs

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The leader of the city’s teacher’s union says the district’s emergency financial manager has lied to his membership and treated them unfairly.

Keith Johnson says he is preparing to file the biggest lawsuit of his career to challenge the authority of Roy Roberts, the district’s emergency financial manager.

At a special school board meeting Monday night Johnson said there could be chaos next week during the first few days of school because so many teachers have been laid off or reassigned.

Johnson is also angry because even though the district sent out lay-off notices back in April, Johnson claims Roberts’ office waited too long to send out letters affirming the cuts.

Roberts’ office released this statement after the meeting:

“A new state law provides Detroit Public Schools the first opportunity in its history to make hiring and placement decisions based on objective evaluations of teacher effectiveness, not purely seniority.

This process has been undertaken for months and included an opportunity for every teacher to apply at school of their choice and principals to interview and select. That process is concluding.

As of this past weekend, 2,500 of 3,000 teachers received assignment letters, meaning they know precisely what classroom they'll be teaching in and can be ready for the first day of teaching and learning Sept. 4.

Another 400 teachers were notified that their evaluation was below the 70th percentile and thus they wouldn't be placed. The remaining assignments will be concluded this week.”