Most state senators from the city put the interests of the teachers union ahead of those of city students last week by voting against a bill that would have let officials fire low-performing teachers instead of laying off teachers based on seniority, critics charge.
The state Senate voted to preserve the “last in, first out” law despite knowing that schools with a disproportionate number of newer teachers will be decimated, according to a Post review of city layoff projections.
Senate Majority Leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) voted nay despite the nine schools in his district that could lose at least a fifth of their teachers under Mayor Bloomberg’s worst-case scenario.
The Olympus Academy would have to let go 31 percent, the East New York Elementary School of Excellence 29 percent, the HS for Medical Professions 27 percent, four others 25 percent and one 20 percent.
Only three of the city’s state senators voted to scrap LIFO, among them Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn).
“They definitely voted with the special interests over the kids,” he said of the pro-LIFO group.