Fort Worth ISD expected to lay off instructional coaches, directors through restructuring
Layoffs at the Fort Worth Independent School District are expected to be approved by the school board during its March 25 meeting on Tuesday evening, according to district records.
The Tuesday agenda shows school board members will be discussing a “reduction in force due to program change” during a closed session before they consider voting on a resolution that restructures the district’s Department of Learning and Leading. The resolution also lists at least 19 impacted job types and employment areas, but Fort Worth ISD officials have yet to release the full number of potentially laid-off positions. The department’s restructuring comes at the recommendation of Superintendent Karen Molinar.
“The program change is part of the ongoing efforts to address the decline in student enrollment, improve efficiency, and redirect resources to positively impact students. This restructuring will result in changes to a number of positions within the district,” the resolution states.
The jobs and employment areas impacted by the proposed cuts are:
Area superintendents
Executive director for math/science and professional learning
Executive director of humanities
Director of humanities
Director of professional & innovative learning
Director of student academic support initiatives
Instructional coach coordinators
Digital learning specialists
Literacy instructional coaches
Literacy (English as a Second Language/Dual Language) instructional coaches
Math instructional coaches
Math (English as a Second Language/Dual Language) instructional coaches
Science instructional coaches
Science (English as a Second Language/Dual Language) instructional coaches
Social studies instructional coaches
Social studies (English as a Second Language/Dual Language) instructional coaches
Special education instructional coaches
Campus instructional coaches
Deans of instruction
The impacted employees have Chapter 21 contracts, which can be probationary, continuing or term contracts. The lengths of contracts can range from one school year to five school years, according to state law.
“Typically, districts use one-year contracts for teachers, librarians, and other campus-level educators. Multi-year term contracts are more common for central office administrators,” according to the Texas Association of School Boards.
The affected Fort Worth ISD employees will be considered for other available positions in the district, records show.
District officials did not respond to the Star-Telegram’s questions, as of early Tuesday afternoon, about the total number of impacted employees, how the funds from these positions would be reallocated within the district’s budget, and when employees’ last day with the district would be.
The school board meeting begins at 5:30 p.m on Tuesday.
