: News

Filed Under:

Mayor Fenty Says He Will Not Attend Hearing On Teacher Layoffs

October 27, 2009
Play associated audio
comments
Several questions remain over why the layoffs took place so close to the beginning of school, how teachers were selected and whether the layoffs were necessary.
Kavitha Cardoza
Several questions remain over why the layoffs took place so close to the beginning of school, how teachers were selected and whether the layoffs were necessary.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty says he will not attend a council hearing about the teachers recently laid off from D.C. Public Schools. Chancellor Michelle Rhee will be at the council hearing on Thursday. It's an opportunity for her to explain her decision to layoff nearly 400 school personnel, including more than 250 educators. The layoffs led to several protest rallies, lawsuits and an 18 hour council hearing where teachers and community members testified.

Council members and community residents have asked Fenty to come to the hearing as well. But he says he won't be there. "A mayor testifies once a year during the budget process. It's always been a custom and we've continued that custom."

Several questions remain over why the layoffs took place so close to the beginning of school, how teachers were selected and whether the layoffs were necessary.

Kavitha Cardoza reports...

Arts & Culture

NPR

Book News: Stephen King's New Bogeyman? Digital Publishing

Also: the legacy of Kierkegaard; the creator of Lyle Crocodile has died; Aussie airliner Qantas commissions flight-length books.

Food

NPR

Washington State Butcher Spikes Pig Feed With Weed

Despite its name, the "pot pig" experiment isn't an attempt to develop a new meaty treat for stoners. Instead, a Seattle butcher is feeding marijuana seeds, stems and root bulbs to swine as a cheeky money-saving measure.

Politics

NPR

'I Was Dismayed' To Learn What Agency Did, Ex-IRS Chief Says

Under Douglas Shulman's watch, IRS personnel singled out some conservative groups for extra scrutiny. That, he conceded Tuesday, has "justifiably led to questions" about the tax agency's motivation.

Technology

NPR

My Social Security Number Is Posted Where?

Sensitive personal information for thousands of applicants to a government phone program was easily available online, according to a new report. Isaac Wolf, of Scripps Howard News Service, talks to host Michel Martin about finding applicants' social security numbers, home addresses and more online.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.