Teachers Speak Out After 1,400 Broward Educators Get Pink Slips

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4)- The budget battle took center stage once again at the Broward County School Board as more than 1,000 teachers were told they are out of a job. But some of them are not giving up without a fight.

Teachers who want their voices to be heard as the district faces millions of dollars in cuts appeared at the school board building in Fort Lauderdale.

"It's starting to affect morale in the schools because they don't know what's going on," middle school teacher Hal Krantz said. "The budget cuts should stop at a teacher's door."

"When the military needs something, the government does everything to get it, when teachers need something, they cut the budget," said science teacher Anne Skurnick.

Frustration and disappointment is spilling over into the Broward School Board meeting as teachers react to word that 1,400 educators are getting pink slips.

"Every teacher who gets laid off affects every other teacher," Krantz said. "How? Just do the numbers. Everybody always tells us about the numbers if you take 8 teachers out of the school that's 25 kids in the classroom …that's 200 kids. Where are you putting them?"

Band director Marcos Rodriguez is also affected by the board's recent actions.

"Their managing this county poorly and because of their poor management of this county is the reason why we have to suffer," Rodriguez said.

And while Rodriguez has only been on the job for a year, he's got plenty of reasons to want to keep his job.

"I'm happy at my school. I love the diversity," Rodriguez said. "All you did was put a band-aid on the problem. I want my job back. I'm about to become a father and I can't afford COBRA."

According to the union, the district has ignored suggestions on where to trim fat.

"Eleven million dollars could be saved by eliminating one of the two area offices that are now housed in the same location but aren't even in the location of the areas they're suppose to be serving," union representative Ernie Schultz said.

Superintendent Jim Notter said the measure comes as a result of reducing the budget.

"We're in the beginning of our budget cutting process, unfortunately, and ultimately over the next several weeks we will be continuously looking at places to reduce the budget," Notter said. "Once again, they (state legislators) are shirking their duty and not providing what's mandated in the state constitution."