According to a Detroit News' database of Metro Detroit home foreclosures, 1,342 homes in the city of Southfield have been subject of foreclosure filings since January 2006.

Unfortunately, the Southfield Board of Education voted 5-2 Tuesday night to increase that number by as many as 350.

By firing 350 dedicated school employees and giving those jobs to out-of-state contractors, the school board has threatened not only the education of thousands of public school students, but also the health of the local economy.

The custodial, maintenance and transportation workers fired Tuesday night largely live in the district. Their children attend Southfield Public Schools. They shop in local stores, eat in local restaurants and patron local businesses. And they purchase homes and support the local tax base.

Especially given already raging foreclosure epidemic, it's likely many of these fired school employees now will lose their homes. Their and their families' lives will be turned upside down, and the local businesses that depend on them will suffer as well.

You can read more about the Southfield board's devastating actions on the MEA Web site, including a press release explaining how this board will be held accountable for the promises they've made to their community.