Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/15/2008
Posts: 18
Points: 54
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In the latest round of cuts, the state has hit day programs, transportation, and respite hard. Now I am hearing that there will be layoffs
in the six remaining state schools in January.
One way they can cut at the state schools is to reduce overtime, though some overtime cannot be avoided when there is 24-hour staffing.
Increasingly, the state is seeing the guardians as adversaries, rather than trying to work with them. The recent court decisions have had the effect of reducing te power of the guardians. Right now, the state is not placing so many people from state schools in group homes. Instead, it is placing them in other state schools.
The one bright spot in all this gloom- the quality of the staff hired in the last few months has improved. High unemployment has meant that employers can be pickier about who they hire. Privatization is not the answer for most state employees, since no-one can live on $11 an hour. So they will hang on to their jobs if they can.
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Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/15/2008
Posts: 18
Points: 54
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The MA State economy is in tough shape, for real. I can't see the state continuing to pour money into places like Fernald, especially since the other states have all signed onto de-institutionalization and privatization. Keeping Fernald going is asking the governor, Deval Patrick, to do something unfashionable that costs lots of tax$$. I know that the retarded people are getting a better quality of care there, but I don't run things in this state.
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