Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has blasted the City’s move to layoff over 700 public school aides and support titles. The first round of those layoffs is scheduled to take place today.
“These school aides play a critical support role in our public schools, and without their services the classroom experiences of our children will undoubtedly suffer. I am calling on Mayor Bloomberg to rethink this move, in light of the negative effect it will surely have on the public school students of the Bronx and the entire City,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
Statistics supplied to the Borough President’s office by DC 37, the union that represents the school aides, indicate that a total of 714 workers are slated to be laid off.
The first round of layoffs will take place on October 2, and will see 127 workers laid off across the city, including 25 full time support staff in Bronx schools.
The second round of layoffs will take place on October 16, when 587 workers across the city, including 183 in Bronx schools, will be affected.
Positions targeted for layoffs include school lunch workers, school aides, Substance Abuse Prevention & Intervention Specialists (SAPIS), community associates, community assistants and community coordinators.