Sad situation for our children

In Charlotte, NC and apparently across the country schools have plans to cut teaching positions as municipalities face budget shortfalls. There is a major problem with this trend. Also, here in North Carolina and across the country we've been hearing over and over again about teacher shortages. And these shortages are real. The number of students in each classroom exceeds recommended amounts for effective learning. Programs like Teach for America are working to lure more to the profession. Programs are in place to help those in other fields transition successfully to the teaching world. In addition, in these economic times, many students who were once in private schools will enter the public school system because their recently unemployed parent(s) can no longer afford tuition. So at the same time enrollment will increase, teachers will be cut. Times are difficult and money is short, but how can the best course of action be to layoff classroom teachers?

I'd hate to see anyone layed off - be it administrative staff or classroom teachers. So, I am not suggesting the layoffs be shifted to administrative staff. And there is a need for administrative staff too. But with several very highly paid administrative executives here in Charlotte, and I suspect in many school districts, are there other cuts that can be made? Salary cuts, like many businesses that wish to save more jobs are doing? That talk hasn't come to Charlotte. Peter Gorman, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent, hasn't mentioned pay cuts for himself and his administration staff - or across the board even.

There are also programs and technologies which can be cut at this time. I guess it might be good to examine which would have the greater effect on students 1) overcrowded classrooms or 2)loss of some technological tools which some of our better schools have become accustomed to. It seems like a good teacher could get creative and still teach a reasonable number of students with less technology than the same teacher teaching an overcrowded class. But, that's just my opinion - I may not know best.

What are your thoughts?