May 12, 2009 in News, City

103 Spokane teachers notified of layoffs

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Colleen Eyrich drove across town to attend the first of two public forums scheduled this week about Spokane Public Schools’ budget.

“I want to see where the district is going to cut the budget in such a tight spot,” said Eyrich, who is involved in her neighborhood school’s Parent Teacher Organization.

Eyrich has two children attending Audubon Elementary, and three who graduated from North Central High School.

“Now we’re down to bare bones, and cutting stuff that really hurts kids,” she said.

Tuesday’s discussion focused on proposed program cuts that would balance the 2009-’10 budget.

The primary concern among those who showed up Tuesday was how much class sizes could increase because of potential teacher layoffs. Earlier in the day, 103 teachers received notification that their contracts would not be renewed.

Although officials say they ultimately will let fewer than 40 teachers go, class sizes would go up by one student.

Liz Little, a parent, said class sizes are one of the concerns about the district’s budget, but it’s not up to officials to fix everything.

“The parents need to band together and make sure their kids show up ready to learn,” Little said.

Personnel cuts are among the many ways the school district is proposing to bridge an $8.8 million gap in its 2009-2010 budget.

Principals called the teachers on Monday night to tell them they would be receiving the notices, said Staci Vesneske, assistant superintendent.

“This is a sad time for many districts across the state,” Superintendent Nancy Stowell said. “For us, it is particularly ironic with the recent passage of our levy and bond by Spokane voters.”

It’s important for the community to understand, “bond money can only be spent on things like school construction and technology upgrades, not educational programs, staff, supplies, or operations.”

Vesneske said the impact to schools is varied: Two to eight teachers were given notice at the high schools, one to five at the middle schools and zero to four in the elementary schools.

The hardest hit at each level were Rogers High School with eight teachers notified, Garry Middle School with five and Regal Elementary, also with five, according to Vesneske.

The layoffs are based on seniority, Vesneske said. Rogers had the most new teachers, she said.

The schools where no teachers were impacted are Brown, Indian Trail, Woodridge, Mullan Road and Madison elementaries, Vesneske said.

Officials maintain they plan to rehire all but about 40 of those notified today. Those 40 positions would save an estimated $1.6 million.

“I don’t want to give false hope, but I think all may be hired back by the end of August,” Vesneske said.

Whether that happens depends on levy equalization and federal stimulus money, officials say.

Other proposed cuts include:

• Dividing developmentally impaired students between two Spokane high schools, closer to their homes, rather than bused to a central location;

• Reducing administrators pay by two days;

• Reducing caterings for staff events;

• Limiting travel;

• Reducing the number of district-paid cell phones (currently 195);

• Reducing clerical, security and technical positions;

• Delaying the painting of school buildings;

• Eliminating leased office space;

• Suspending a mentor teachingprogram.

One comment on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  eagleproducer on May 12 at 7:27 p.m.

  Why were there no cuts to classified personnel?

  Does it make sense to have custodians and food service personnel, some who make more than $50,000.00 a year with benefits, not take any cuts? When those services could be contracted to private firms for much less money that action should be seriously considered prior to making cuts that will impact student services.

  The superintendent of District 81 makes $176,640.00 in base salary. With per diem and benefits she brings home a compensation package well over $200,000.00 a year. This despite only one high school meeting AYP and an overall dropout rate beyond 30%. With some student groups, namely Native Americans, that dropout rate is over 70%. That base salary is more than all but three state governors, ten thousand more than Gregoire and fifty five thousand more than the state superintendent of public instruction.

  http://www.salaries.wa.gov/documents/SchoolSuptsvsSPI2008.pdf

  http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/dop/socc/docs/bkgrnd_socc23.pdf

  There is the proof for the doubters. Don’t forget to count in the many assistant superintendents as well.

  Where are the stories and reporting of those most impacted by these cuts instead of the top down spoon feeding of Administrati speak being regurgitated by the Spokesman-Review?