Asumag 1245 2015march Drgregoryethornton
Asumag 1245 2015march Drgregoryethornton
Asumag 1245 2015march Drgregoryethornton
Asumag 1245 2015march Drgregoryethornton
Asumag 1245 2015march Drgregoryethornton

Baltimore city district issues layoff notices to more than 150 central office staff

May 28, 2015
District CEO Gregory Thornton had indicated earlier this year that a reorganization would eliminate at least 100 central office jobs.

Looking to cut costs, the Baltimore city school district has issued layoff notices to more than 150 employees as part of a central office reorganization.

The district announced in a news release that 159 staff positions were eliminated and another 16 employees have been reassigned. Creation of new positions in the reorganization will offset some of those eliminated; the changes will result in a 119.2-position reduction..

CEO Gregory Thornton, faced with a projected $108 million gap in the 2015-16 budget, has been working on the reorganizing since assuming the CEO job last year. He had indicated that at least 100 central office positions would be eliminated.

“Making the decision to eliminate staff positions is a very challenging thing to do,” says Thornton. “But it is necessary not only to balance the budget for the upcoming year, but to put the district on the path to financial stability for the long term. By taking this difficult step today, we’re investing in our students for tomorrow.”

The central office reorganization includes a redesign of the academics office so that it can better provide "direct, targeted, and sustained services" to support teaching and learning. A newly created student supports office will focus on issues of climate, safety, student engagement, and ensuring students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being.

The district also will cut costs by reducing the number of surplus staff members without permanent funded positions, who in the past were available for placement in vacancies as they arose.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...