GODDARD REMOVES 16 WORKERS - PROFESSORS SEE POLITICAL MOTIVES
PLAINFIELD - In a move to save $300,000, Goddard College President Richard Greene has let go 16 full- and part-time employees.
Greene's critics immediately said most of the layoffs were political payback for recent protests directed against him and his management style.
In a prepared statement, Greene said the reductions were made to save money and "lay a solid foundation for Goddard's future."
Greene said two full-time and seven part-time faculty members whose contracts expire this year were not offered new contracts. The school has about 58 faculty members; about 20 are full time.
In addition, he said, the college's administrative staff would be reduced by five fulltime and two part-time staff members. There are about 50 administrative workers; about 45 are full time.
All the people who were let go will be offered a severance package based upon their years of service, Greene said. The service of those leaving. ranges from one to nine years, he said.
"We don't anticipate further layoffs at this time," Greene said.
The college does not plan to replace the people leaving unless it's "absolutely necessary," he said. Instead, other employees will be asked to fill in the gaps created by the layoffs.
Catherine Weidner, an instructor at the college, said Greene was using Goddard's budget as a way to get rid of people he doesn't like.
"This is a manufactured budget crisis that was designed to purge people," she said. Weidner said the firings were not in line with any recommendations made by Goddard College's executive committee.
Weidner said Greene did not follow a "last hired, first fired" policy in choosing whom to terminate. Instead, she said, he specifically went after many of the Goddard employees who were the most outspoken against his leadership.
But Greene said he based his selection on the recommendations of an internal council comprising. faculty, students, staff and administration, combined with "legal constraints ... and the overall. mission of the college."
He also tried to spread the layoffs across the board, ranging from senior staff to maintenance, he said.
Goddard's board of trustees is scheduled to meet next weekend.
"Goddard College President Richard Greene's administration has decided not to renew the-contracts of 16 employees."
Greene
