All is quiet on the home education front
– for now.
Shortly after Gov. Gray Davis proposed budget cuts in education
spending, the state Legislature began arguing and bargaining. But
activity has slowed at the capital, leaving local school
administrators wondering if there will be news about the budget for
the next fiscal year before the March 15 deadline to notify staff
of possible layoffs.
All is quiet on the home education front – for now.
Shortly after Gov. Gray Davis proposed budget cuts in education spending, the state Legislature began arguing and bargaining. But activity has slowed at the capital, leaving local school administrators wondering if there will be news about the budget for the next fiscal year before the March 15 deadline to notify staff of possible layoffs.
There has been news of mid-year budget cuts being delayed until the next fiscal year, but Jean Burns Slater, superintendent of the San Benito High School District, is sticking to Davis’ plan for the time being.
“Until we hear something from the state Legislature, we have to use the governor’s proposal,” Slater said.
Slater and Aromas-San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Jackie Munoz said they don’t think the Legislature will have numbers by March 15, leaving them to guess at how many staff members should be laid off for next year.
The deadline is mandated to give people enough time to find another job for the next school year, Slater said.
By March 15, staff members must be informed if they will be laid off at the end of the school year. If districts over-budget layoffs, they can retract the notice or rehire the person. Also, Munoz said, the list gets revised in May.
Once a district determines who must be laid off, its board of trustees must approve the layoffs. Most school districts have already held their February board meetings, and the deadline has forced some to hold special meetings before March 15.
Assemblyman Simon Salinas, D-Salinas, agrees that the Legislature has been quiet, but said that’s about to change.
“I think next week there will be a lot of action,” Salinas said. “There will be debate and discussion again.”
Salinas attributed the stall in progress to finding a solution to the state vehicle license fee issue and tension among Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature. Salinas said he hopes the Legislature will have news next week. He also said the Assembly should hear from the Senate next week and vote on its proposal, then send it to the governor.
In preparation for the March 15 deadline, districts are compiling seniority lists based on various factors. The ASJUSD is basing its list on teachers’ competency and how long they’ve been with the district. The SBHSD is still developing its list, but proposed including rating staff members on appropriate credentials, past evaluations, their ability to serve as a role model, demonstration of service to school and students, and professional growth.
The district will hold a special Board of Trustees meeting Feb. 26 to make a final decision. It has also moved up its March meeting eight days to March 11.
“The next two weeks, we’ll be looking over our first-year probationary teachers and whether they’re being successful in the classroom or not,” Slater said. “We may release some of them like we would in a normal year. We may not have to do any layoffs. We’re looking at retirees and attrition.”
The SBHSD loses 18 to 25 teachers each year, said Clete Bradford, president of the SBHS chapter of the California Teachers Association.
Some teachers feel threatened by potential layoffs, he said.
“It’s a very scary thing,” Bradford said.
Even though Slater does not foresee laying off any staff, she said the SBHSD needs to be prepared for the worst.
Another issue thrown into the mix for administration is the number of teachers in certain subjects. Special-education teachers are in short supply, so they may not be fired even if they’re low on the seniority list. The ASJUSD also had five teachers on leave of absence this year who will return for the 2003-04 school year.
“We’re laying off because of a reduction of budget, but we also have to lay off because of people coming back into the district,” Munoz said.
While there is frustration on the part of district staff, there is also frustration on the part of administration, who must conform to deadlines when the state isn’t doing the same.
“We’re disrupting lives. Unfortunately, we’re having to do things and be safe,” Munoz said. “We’re overreacting to stay safe.”
