Champaign School District Lets Go Dozens of Teachers

Tonight, the School Board announced they're letting around 70 teachers and staff go. It's all part of the district's annual reduction in force, known as riffing. In the past, its been because of money. This year, the district is using the cuts to re-evaluate what students need.
    Hours before the meeting, the Union for the teachers was questioning some of cuts. School leaders say letting these teachers go, gives them the flexibility to see what the educational needs are in the district come next fall. This year, the majority who have been let go are part-time workers like aides; others are teachers who are paid through grants. Some are concerned this is running good teachers out.The schools says they're using it as opportunity to help students. District spokeswoman Beth Sheppard says, "you have to have flexibility to determine education needs, program needs."
  Teacher's union president Deborah Foertsch fears riffing will result in the loss of good teachers, " they could go elsewhere, and seek employment when this is a really great teacher and you don't want these good teachers applying to other districts."
  The District says it expects to hire back most of those let go tonight. Teachers should know sometime this summer who will be rehired.