23 EV teachers may lose jobs
At least 23 teachers and two administrators in the East Valley School District were notified Tuesday that they may not have a job next year.
The state requires schools to provide such notice to certified teaching staff by May 15.
The teachers who have been put on notice are in their first year or two of teaching with the district, school officials said.
“But some of those people are specialists in their fields, so they will come back,” said Leslee McLachlan, the president of the East Valley Education Association. “It just depends on what open positions we have as we go through the process.”
Those who received notices will be put into an employment pool and will be offered available jobs as positions come open.
The news comes as the 4,000-student district grapples with a looming financial crisis.
Last month the district provided a list of recommendations for $1.8 million in budget cuts to deal with the shortfall, including the elimination of 16.7 full-time equivalent teaching positions to match the steady drop in student enrollment.
In addition to teaching positions, one principal, Anali Weatherhead, is losing her job at Trent Elementary School. That position will be filled with existing district staff, eliminating one position, said Dale McLaughlin, director of personnel.
Also, the assistant superintendent position previously held by Debra Howard will not be filled. Howard was appointed interim superintendent by the school board last week after Superintendent Christine Burgess announced she will not return.
Three internal candidates were interviewed for the job, including McLaughlin and Assistant Superintendent Jan Beauchamp.
“Our goal was to have somebody in place that was in-district that understood the recovery plan that we have,” said June Sine, school board president.
The recovery plan includes additional recommended budget cuts yet to be determined. The district has proposed cutting some classified staff, including custodians and security officers through attrition.