Milwaukee teacher fired because of residence laws

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Posted by Jim on Jan 24, 2008 321 views

Can the slow housing market get you fired? In Milwaukee, as in many cities, positions require employees to be residents. Dan Bearss, a beloved science teacher has a requirement to move within the City of Milwaukee as part of his contract as a MPS (Milwaukee Public School) teacher. Bearss lives outside of Milwaukee in the community of Brown Dear, a short 10 miles away. But Bearss has been unable to sell his home, and cannot move. That would make this a sad story of the economy forcing a man to choose between a job his is good at, were the students fellow teachers and the administration all like him, or his home.

But the truth is the he doesn’t have his house up for sale. When I first heard this story, I jumped into the same thought that everyone else would in the current housing situation - he tried but could not move. Rather, Dan wants to stay in his home in Brown Dear, and knows that when he took the position at MPS he would have to move. Now the reality of that contract falls and with it the axe lands this Friday on Dans position as science teacher with MPS.

Do I agree with this? Yes. It is a contract all MPS staff agree to, what is fair for them is fair for all. Major city schools and major city administrations need to do everything to fight suburban drain, and requiring their employees and staff to live in the city is fine by me. Many disagree with it, especially the employees. But the residents and politicans of those municipalities like the requirements. They want to keep the money in the community. Dan Bearss knew this when he took the job. If he had a problem with it, he should have never taken the job. When I brought this up today at the Milwaukee airport, I got the same reaction from one person. later today I asked a woman who’s husband is an MPS teacher. She had the same opinion - she would love to move, but for her husbands job they have to stay in the City of Milwaukee. Everyone knows that.

So the city isn’t losing a great teacher, it is losing someone who tried to get around their contract. And the taxpayers of Milwaukee would be harmed if this injustice was allowed to continue. I support the MPS and wish them luck in hiring another great teacher who will live in Milwaukee and support the community that pays their salary.

Now lets make this story worse - Bearss is not only former military, he is a graduate of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. This is a man who has served 10 years as an office in the US Military. He has to know the meaning of contracts, commitments, and keeping your word. It really is a disgrace that he pulled a stunt like this. In one quote he decided to take a don’t ask, don’t tell policy. That is bullshit. Dan Bearss knows he did wrong, he has gotten caught. Is this the type of personality you want teaching your children?

Filed Under: soapbox

Tags: america, business, education