Layoff Notices for Teachers Sent Out and Rescinded

The School District of Philadelphia sent out 3,024 layoff notices June 6.

The notices were sent to 1,523 teachers and 490 people who work in the district's central office, according to a news release. The district said it had to make the move in order to present a balanced budget to the School Reform Commission.

However, the layoff notices sent to teachers were rescinded after a judge issued an injunction ordering them to be taken back temporarily.

Judge Idee C. Fox sided with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) in saying the layoffs happened in a manner that violated the process established in the current collective bargaining agreement between the School District and the union.

“I don’t want to see anyone laid off,” said PFT President Jerry T. Jordan outside the courtroom, according to a news release. “But if layoffs are necessary, the district is required to follow the process agreed upon in the contract negotiated less than 18 months ago."

A hearing is scheduled June 14 in the city's Common Pleas Court at 9:30 a.m. to further discuss the matter.

PFT Attorney Ralph Teti said there were no procedural grounds on which to challenge support-employee layoffs.

At issue in the complaint are approximately 200 layoff notices the PFT believes the district improperly sent to some teachers, while the District exempted less senior teachers in so-called Promise Academies.