PVUSD Board attacks Class Size Reduction, votes to lay off hundreds

Hundreds of teachers, nurses, classified workers, parents, and students were present at the PVUSD board meetings on Wednesday and Thursday nights to demand the board of trustees make fair and equitable cuts across the district. Everyone there understood the need to cut money from the budget, after the state eliminated so much funding for schools this year, however the demand was that cuts be made as far from the classroom as possible.

Despite this, no jobs were eliminated at the top, as superintendent and assistant superintendent contracts were protected. But this was not the first time that the top brass has put themselves ahead of the teachers.

A recent study conducted by the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers compared PVUSD with 30 comparable districts (in both size and population) and showed that of those 30 districts, PVUSD ranks 3rd from the top in per pupil funding from the state of California. Despite this, teacher salaries in PVUSD were at the very bottom of the list, making teachers the lowest paid. Where's the money going? Since the 2004-05 school year cabinet members (including but not limited to the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, and Deputy Superintendent) have seen a 25% increase in salary and benefits. Over the same time period, District Office Administration has seen a 14.5% increase in salary. Teachers have seen only a 7% increase.

Superintendent Dorma Baker’s website states that PVUSD’s mission is, “to educate and support learners in reaching their highest potential.” By increasing class size, student achievement is going to drop. By laying off nurses and custodians, schools will not be a clean and healthy environment for students to learn in. By cutting the number of aides available to work with students disabilities we do not provide them with an equitable and fair learning opportunity. By eliminating sports programs at the middle and high schools we close doors to students who might succeed in things other than academics and to gain life experiences that they deserve to have just as much as wealthier students do. Each and every cut that the board has authorized has a direct negative impact on our students achieving their highest potential. How, we ask, are these children affected when administration positions are reduced or eliminated?

In a time of crisis, the PVUSD administration should be ashamed of itself. Our most important people, the students, are the ones who will suffer from these unconscionable decisions.