The grim state of education is dropping the axe on Union City yet again as the New Haven Unified School District votes on an initial round of layoffs for the 2012-13 school year at tonight’s Board of Education meeting.
On the agenda is a resolution to issue preliminary pink slips to teachers in order to eliminate 77 full-time certificated staff positions. (Download the agenda here or click on the document to the right.)
The action is a precautionary measure as school budgets continue to remain in flux, stressed district spokesman Rick La Plante. The state’s deadline for districts to approve all layoffs is March 15.
“These are measures the state pretty much forces us to take,” La Plante said.
The cuts include 25 multiple subject teaching positions at elementary schools, along with all library staff, literary coaches, music teachers and other elective positions in elementary and middle schools.
The Board of Education will also vote on reductions for about 30 classified district staff positions.
“In economic times like this, we have to err on the side of caution,” La Plante said. “We issue more notices than we want. We don’t want to disrupt people’s lives. It’s terrible, but the state hasn’t given us many choices.”
This time . However, as the start of the 2011-12 school year drew closer, the district was able to offer jobs to everyone on the initial layoff list, according to La Plante.
“Not all of them took the offer; some of them retired or moved to other districts by then,” La Plante said. “At least we were able to make that offer.”
“Hopefully we can do that again this year,” he added.
The cuts to staff are just some of the measures the district may take for the 2012-13 school year.
“We have to have as many possibilities as we can so that we have flexitbility to say, ‘We can make this work but not that,’” La Plante said.
During the Feb. 21 school board meeting, the district’s chief business officer, Akur Varadarajan, highlighted New Haven’s financial stress.
According to Varadarajan, the district has lost nearly $16 million in funding from the state since 2008 and faces up to another $10.7 million in losses for the 2012-13 school year.
To lessen the impact, the , to be voted on in June. The tax would raise $3 million each year it’s in place.
Without it, the impacts could be severe for students, Varadarjan said.
In addition to the layoffs, some of the other money-saving actions include:
- nine budget reduction days for the 2012‐13 school year, estimated to save $3 million
- increasing K‐2 class sizes to 30-to-1, estimated to save $1.1 million
- eliminating the Community Day School, which will result in the layoff of two FTE teaching positions, estimated to save $100,000
- eliminating stipends for co‐curricular and athletics programs, estimated at $200,000
"The blame is squarely on Sacramento," La Plante said of the worsening state of local education.
Tonight's meeting will be held at its regular time at 7:30 p.m. at , located at 34200 Alvarado-Niles Rd.
The blame is squarely on the School District who spent every nickel of Bond Money and budgeted money. It is people like La Plante who are totally unnecesary. Save the classroom teachers and get rid of the bureaucrats and politicians. The first layoff notice should be given that Union President that disgraced the citizens of Union City by getting arrested in Sacramento. Live within your means, don't advocate an unfair parcel tax on the homeowners.
Love the entitlement mentality... gimme gimme gimme!!! Any legitimate teacher has to be a fool to associate with these lunatics. We all saw how popular the Occupy movements have become, especially in places like Oakland.
We have been compensated for health care increases, but this is not making anyone rich. We earn our salaries like anyone else, and in fact probably put in more unpaid hours than most. So, yes, budget cuts have made an impact. I now have 39 adolescents in a core academic subject, I have a larger work load, which means that even though I put in extra time and hours, evenings, afterschool, weekends, I still cannot do what I know needs to be done for all of my students. There simply isn't even time. Tim, I would love for you to walk a day in my shoes( you wouldn't be able to handle more than that I don't think) You would have a new sense of appreciation and wonder at what we are able to do in our present circumstances. Temporary pay freeze... we have been on one, it's even in our current contract. So get off of your soap box and find out what's really happening.
I don't have a real problem with the Classroom teachers, other than I wish I would have spent a career only putting in 9 months for a years pay. The problem is with the Administration. They are bloated with people that don't contribute anything to the bottom line. How many Principals are at Logan?, And, oh by the way, how many Logan Students ride the BART from other cities for the sake of the Athletic programs. Her Highness, McV needs to get off her executive recliner and find out what each and every employee of New Haven School District does to contribute to the bottom line. If she had any business savvy she could probably cull out about 20% of the dead weight. And one other thought is that maybe if your Union would contribute half as much to the District as they do the Democrat Party it might help
Teachers EARN their pay just like you Tim. Just because their pay comes from taxes doesn't make you better than them. They pay taxes too! So they help pay their own wages. Can't say that about you. Tim's utopia.... tea baggers and king Tim rule! Were you never pay any taxes FOR ANYTHING! All schools are closed. Shut down all government. King Tim can wear his gun and dispose of anyone who doesn't think in lock step with King Tim. Where is your utopia Tim? Your utopia is all in your head! You'll never be happy anywhere!
I have no problem with paying teachers a fair salary for their work. I respect the work they do. I have a problem when they feel they are above it all when it comes to accepting any sacrifice in this Obama recession while the rest of us suffer. "They pay taxes too! So they help pay their own wages. Can't say that about you." This just makes to sense. What's your point? That I should be paid in tax dollars so my tax dollars go to support me too? Or simply that we should all work for the government and there should be no private enterprise? I don't believe in a utopia.... that's the liberals dream. I believe in freedom, private property rights and limited government. It's clear from other discussions that you believe in a big government nanny state where the government provides all your needs (or at least promises to) Good for you. Those of us that still believe in freedom and private property rights will continue to speak out. And by the way, that would be "seem", not "seam". You must have graduated from James Logan HS.