Berkley Education Association Joins Statewide 'Day of Action'

Members of the Berkley Education Association hit the pavement Tuesday in the wilting heat to participate in a statewide Day of Action protest against pending state cuts to K-12 education and changes to tenure and collective bargaining for teachers.

Drivers honked in support as they passed the red-and-white clad teachers and staff members stationed outside schools throughout the to distribute literature to parents and other passers-by. The informal pickets were organized by the Michigan Education Association.

"This effort is not in protest to the Berkley School District, but is in support," BEA President Mary Lou Gleason wrote in an e-mail to Berkley Patch. "The BEA hopes that with all other stakeholders (parents, school employees and community members) that we can turn back this 'terrible tide' of attacks. All of us who care for our schools must ask ourselves what we can do to preserve them. We must demand that the state live up to its responsibilities and promises."

A tentative deal struck last month by Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders that would lessen planned cuts to schools and put-aside money in the state's rainy day funds could mean fewer layoffs and less drastic cuts in the , but it does little to allay concerns about a perceived loss of local control over education.

Because the Berkley School District is required by law to complete its budget by the end of June, it already had started the budgeting process under the assumption that Snyder's proposed $470-per-student cut would pass. With that in mind, the Board of Education approved the layoffs of 45 teachers in May.

A board of education budget hearing was held several hours after the protest.  Superintendent of Finance, Facilities and Operations Larry Gallagher said the reduction of full-time employees next year may be 18.98. That means some of the teachers on the layoff list soon could be called back.

However, Gallagher cautioned that the budget process is ongoing and that staffing levels still could change during the next few weeks.

The reductions come as the district works to balance an estimated $4.8 million budget shortfall for 2011-2012, in part due to the state cuts.

After picking up her third-grader and his friend from school Tuesday at , where BEA members were handing out fliers, Michelle Keys expressed her frustration with the state budget process.

"I think it's awful and I'm very unhappy about it. I've been writing a lot of postcards," she said. "Some of my son's favorite teachers may not be here next year."

Check Berkley Patch for more information and updates on the 2011-2012 Berkley School District budget, as well as teacher layoffs.