5 Reed RIF Notices Rescinded—So Far; McDonough Is Back

At least five of the teachers who received e (RIF) notices found out over the weekend that they will be allowed to return to their jobs next year.

It is not yet known whether the remaining teachers and a counselor who have received the layoff-warning notices will be asked back.

One of the teachers who is returning is part of the department, However, he said late Monday that the news was bittersweet for him because his colleaguehas yet to receive notice that her RIF has been rescinded.

“This is such a convoluted system, and it only emphasizes that we must all be active and participate in what is going on in our school system,” McDonough said. “I completely congratulate the parents for being so active and definitely having an effect at my staying at Walter Reed.”

Parents rallied to stage protests and ask for a town hall meeting with state and other officials.

Newly elected—who secretly placed 12 empty chairs in front of the school as a of the RIF notices—said she wasn’t sure how many of the teachers had their notices rescinded, but she did say that one teacher was on the list by mistake, and was taken off the list.

“I am hoping we will hear some good news by the end of the week, maybe as soon as Wednesday,” Convey said.

wouldn’t comment about the RIF notices, but she found out over the weekend about some of the teachers, and McDonough said he was notified by her on Saturday morning.

McDonough has worked for the school district since July 2002, and Johnson since July 2003.

“I am somewhat relieved about the news, but I will be more relieved to hear that Jessica [Johnson] will also be back and our team will be back in place,” said McDonough. Their teaching team, along with choral director , has won district, state and national honors for having an exceptional music program.

“This has created a new awareness for me of being politically conscious of what is going on and it also proves that active parents are the best voices for us,” McDonough said. “We have to be more aware of all of this.” 

Last week, former band leader and members of the Theolonious Monk Institute came to the school to work with music students and were impressed with the quality of the talent among young Reed musicians.

The school's music department has remained a magnet for attracting students from throughout the district, the principal acknowledged.

McDonough is concerned that next year this whole thing will happen all over again, as far as budget cuts threatening the music department. He pointed out that music education has worked in the school system since 1838 and is slowly being eroded, although he personally has seen many examples of students improving in their academic curriculum when they are also involved with music.

McDonough said he has seen many examples of students improving in their academic curriculum when they are also involved with music.

“I believe in what I do, and I know the students are involved and that it does good when music is a part of their lives,” the teacher said. “It is not like any other kind of education when you see that one student playing a violin who has to learn how to work in sync with 50 other strings and they have to work as a team.”

McDonough said, “There needs to be an understanding about what our programs do for students. There is a sense of cooperation and care for one another.”

Walter Reed’s eighth grade Final Concert is planned for June 16, and its annual Swing Night fundraiser is planned for June 18 at the .