COLATERIAL LOSSES

I have previously put up 2 news articles from a little town tn TN where the GM plant looks sure to close now. TN can't afford the hundreds of of Millions of dollars that GM is demanding up front to keep the plant open.

While the government run GM demanding money to keep doing business is horrible enough, and the loss of thousands of jobs is equally as horrible, there will be other losses.

Because of the GM plant, the town had to build a few new schools to accommodate the workers children. I'm willing to bet GM promised to continue operating their plant, when the town contemplated building the new schools.

Now that GM is pulling out, the new schools now need to be downsized.

County notifies school employees about layoffs

In this 2008 file photo, educational assistant Margie Vanderford lines up McDowell Elementary School students during lunch. Twenty-three educational assistants learned this month they were being terminated as part of cost-saving measures by the district. File photo

Schools struggle with budget

By SKYLER SWISHER/ sswisher@c-dh.net

More than a third of Maury County Public Schools’ teaching assistants received word this month they were being terminated.

Director of Schools Eddie Hickman said the layoffs were needed to balance next fiscal year’s budget. Twenty-three educational assistants and a dozen teachers are being let go.

Hickman said school officials looked at a variety of cuts, including suspending transportation and consolidating schools, but they determined the layoffs were the best option.

“The bottom line is that anything you cut after status quo hurts kids,” he said.

The Maury County Commission’s Budget Committee appropriated $75.2 million for the district’s operating budget, the same amount of funding as this past fiscal year. The school board has approved a spending plan that is about $600,000 higher. Both bodies must agree for the budget to take effect.

School officials say they need more money because of initial start-up costs for opening a new middle school in Spring Hill, higher insurance premiums and a reduction in funding from the state for technology.

Well, I am glad the government is looking out for the people. And I am sure this story is happening everywhere they are closing up shop.

It would appear that kowtowing to the UAW is more important then every other interest. But I guess the big picture of what is happening to Americans isn't too important.

Making sure your political contributors are taken care of is.