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PVUSD pink slips 201 employees
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board of trustees voted to send pink slips to 201 teachers, nurses, and school support staff.
It's happening all over the state. School districts are taking a dramatic financial hit all over Calfornia next year thanks to Arnold's slashing of public school funding. Pajaro Valley school district is looking at having to cut 9.4 million dollars from their general fund next year and those being most adversely affected are elementary school students, their teachers, and the nurses who keep them healthy.
Different districts are responding in different ways to the cuts, making adjustments as necessary. PVUSD has opted to remove the people who have the most immediate positive impact on the students in the district from the classroom instead of chopping off some high-paying administration level positions.
In a desperate move to balance a budget and save their own jobs, the administrators of PVUSD have decided not to trim the fat from the top of the pyramid, rather preserving their high salary positions while instead removing a possible 130 teachers from the classroom. What does this look like for students? Larger class size, for one. The current ratio of 20:1 in Kindergarten through 3rd grade could be bumped up to 34:1.
What could the district have done differently? Well I have a few suggestions for them that would take a bit longer than the 90 seconds they allow for in comment sessions at board meetings, so here goes:
First and foremost, the district MUST place a freeze on hiring the new $180,000 a year district superintendent that has yet to be found. I'm in a classroom everyday and trust me, I've done just fine without this person.
My second suggestion is that next year, instead of spending $100,000 to hire some energy guru to come in and turn down classroom thermastats (see Peter Nichol's op-ed in the Pajaronian for more on that), you can hire one of those laid-off teachers to do the same job for less than half! (need i remind you that PVUSD teacher's salary is in the bottom 10% of the state?)
Here's another idea: let's put aside the adoption of the new Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin math adoption that is going to be just like the one we already use. That should save a few hundred thousand right there.
But now for the big one. Let's talk about those new district administration contracts that you approved 6-1 the DAY AFTER the spending freeze was implemented as a results of Arnie's cuts. Even though those three assistant superintendent contracts weren't due up for renewal until June (just like the teachers' contracts will be), you slid through in a closed-door session approval of these inflated salaries. I don't even know what those assistant supes do, but I can't imagine it's more valuable than what a classroom teacher (and a bilingual one at that) does on a daily basis to improve the lives of her students. It is time for you to take back those contracts and make cuts AS FAR FROM THE CLASSROOM AS POSSIBLE.
I'm sure there are other teachers out there that might like to chime in about what the district could do instead of sending out the pink-slips.
Different districts are responding in different ways to the cuts, making adjustments as necessary. PVUSD has opted to remove the people who have the most immediate positive impact on the students in the district from the classroom instead of chopping off some high-paying administration level positions.
In a desperate move to balance a budget and save their own jobs, the administrators of PVUSD have decided not to trim the fat from the top of the pyramid, rather preserving their high salary positions while instead removing a possible 130 teachers from the classroom. What does this look like for students? Larger class size, for one. The current ratio of 20:1 in Kindergarten through 3rd grade could be bumped up to 34:1.
What could the district have done differently? Well I have a few suggestions for them that would take a bit longer than the 90 seconds they allow for in comment sessions at board meetings, so here goes:
First and foremost, the district MUST place a freeze on hiring the new $180,000 a year district superintendent that has yet to be found. I'm in a classroom everyday and trust me, I've done just fine without this person.
My second suggestion is that next year, instead of spending $100,000 to hire some energy guru to come in and turn down classroom thermastats (see Peter Nichol's op-ed in the Pajaronian for more on that), you can hire one of those laid-off teachers to do the same job for less than half! (need i remind you that PVUSD teacher's salary is in the bottom 10% of the state?)
Here's another idea: let's put aside the adoption of the new Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin math adoption that is going to be just like the one we already use. That should save a few hundred thousand right there.
But now for the big one. Let's talk about those new district administration contracts that you approved 6-1 the DAY AFTER the spending freeze was implemented as a results of Arnie's cuts. Even though those three assistant superintendent contracts weren't due up for renewal until June (just like the teachers' contracts will be), you slid through in a closed-door session approval of these inflated salaries. I don't even know what those assistant supes do, but I can't imagine it's more valuable than what a classroom teacher (and a bilingual one at that) does on a daily basis to improve the lives of her students. It is time for you to take back those contracts and make cuts AS FAR FROM THE CLASSROOM AS POSSIBLE.
I'm sure there are other teachers out there that might like to chime in about what the district could do instead of sending out the pink-slips.
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Maestra, do a bit of homework and educate yourself about the issues. A few things to consider:
-let's not demonize the district administration; this crisis is because of failed leadership in Sacramento. Our governor and legislature, and this includes you, John Laird, have allowed California to fall to 50th in the nation in class size, nurses, counselors, etc. Take the fight to Sacramento.... the PVUSD board and administration are your natural allies, not your enemies.
-that being granted, did you know that the state pays 90% of the cost of K-3 class size reduction... the PVUSD has pink slipped 107 teachers and would force 3400 kids into classes of 34 (instead of the current 20) in order to save the equvilant of six or seven teachers' salaries and benefits.
-be careful about using your students to promote your personal agenda......that isn't good teaching no matter where your politics are
-let's not demonize the district administration; this crisis is because of failed leadership in Sacramento. Our governor and legislature, and this includes you, John Laird, have allowed California to fall to 50th in the nation in class size, nurses, counselors, etc. Take the fight to Sacramento.... the PVUSD board and administration are your natural allies, not your enemies.
-that being granted, did you know that the state pays 90% of the cost of K-3 class size reduction... the PVUSD has pink slipped 107 teachers and would force 3400 kids into classes of 34 (instead of the current 20) in order to save the equvilant of six or seven teachers' salaries and benefits.
-be careful about using your students to promote your personal agenda......that isn't good teaching no matter where your politics are
The business as usual politics of the public workers unions has to be challenged. The ILWU has called for a west coast shutdown on May 1st. Teachers, state,local and county workers and their unions need to start working together collectively and prepare for a one day statwide strike on May 1 against these attacks. They need to put on the November ballot a initiative to remove the 2/3 requirement for an increase in taxes and educate and organize for a change in the state constitution including ending the exclusion of corporate tax benefits of Prop 13. This should also be on the ballot. The leadership of the CTA last year spent $1 million on a ballot initiative to increase taxes on the schools and then dropped it after it qualified. This kind of capitalist political deal making is why the corporate controlled Democrats and Republicans are able to get away with these tactics.
This is terrible and I've got a terrible feeling that this is only going to get worse as time wears on and our economy gets worse. Shame on those who think that our state budget can only be balanced on the backs of Pajaro Valley's public schools.
anonymouse,
first of all I am not using my students to promote any personal agenda. of course Schwarzennegar and sacramento should be blamed in their slashing of the budget but the district of PVUSD is not my ally by any means.
to clarify a few things: my job is not at stake, I'm merely engaging in this discourse on behalf of many other teachers who have less teaching experience than I do and are thus on the chopping block. Also, elimination of class size reduction does not affect me directly as I teach a grade level higher than 3rd and currently have 32 students.
PVUSD has been mismanaged for many years and the way they are dealing with the budget crisis is only another way in which they have put top level administrators above classroom teachers.
PVUSD does not pay their teachers fairly. Starting teacher salary in PVUSD (as well as other Santa Cruz school districts) is currently ranked in the bottom 10% of CA school districts while administrators including a yet-to-be-hired superintendent rank in the top 10%. In an area with such high cost of living this is unconscionable.
This pay is so low because the district does not know how to manage itself effectively and efficiently. If you want to read more, read the Santa Cruz grand jury report that came out last year.
first of all I am not using my students to promote any personal agenda. of course Schwarzennegar and sacramento should be blamed in their slashing of the budget but the district of PVUSD is not my ally by any means.
to clarify a few things: my job is not at stake, I'm merely engaging in this discourse on behalf of many other teachers who have less teaching experience than I do and are thus on the chopping block. Also, elimination of class size reduction does not affect me directly as I teach a grade level higher than 3rd and currently have 32 students.
PVUSD has been mismanaged for many years and the way they are dealing with the budget crisis is only another way in which they have put top level administrators above classroom teachers.
PVUSD does not pay their teachers fairly. Starting teacher salary in PVUSD (as well as other Santa Cruz school districts) is currently ranked in the bottom 10% of CA school districts while administrators including a yet-to-be-hired superintendent rank in the top 10%. In an area with such high cost of living this is unconscionable.
This pay is so low because the district does not know how to manage itself effectively and efficiently. If you want to read more, read the Santa Cruz grand jury report that came out last year.
The images are from 'otra maestra'--the text is from 'maestra,' separate classrooms.
I do not want anyone to attack the words written and published by maestra as 'using [my] students to further [my] personal political agenda' based on the accompanying images, published by another Watsonville teacher.
The student letters were written as part of a standards-based lesson prompted by a discussion about budget cuts and wide distribution of pink-slips. Maestra was unaware of my post, and both of us were unaware they would be combined.
I do not want anyone to attack the words written and published by maestra as 'using [my] students to further [my] personal political agenda' based on the accompanying images, published by another Watsonville teacher.
The student letters were written as part of a standards-based lesson prompted by a discussion about budget cuts and wide distribution of pink-slips. Maestra was unaware of my post, and both of us were unaware they would be combined.
I'd like to read the grand jury report. I'm looking for it on google, but can you post a link to make my life easier? When was it made and what does it say?
WMN, thanks for asking. It was kind of tricky to find. Here's a link to the report via the Santa Cruz Grand Jury website (for juicy yet wordy info scroll down to the "findings" section):
http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/grandjury/GJ2007_final/5-3%20PVUSD.htm
One key finding was the purchase of educational materials from a corporation that the current superintendent (Dr. Mary Anne Mays) used to work for. The district paid more than $1.3 million for a reading curriculum that was not used and Dr. Mays did not site her past ties with the company while persuading her colleagues to purchase the curriculum. She reportedly received a stock option from the company.
Other juicy facts detail the districts fiscal mismanagement and wasteful spending.
A good summary written by Luis Alejo can be found here:
http://www.santacruzschoolnews.com/group/pajarovalleyunifiednews/forum/topic/show?id=941841%3ATopic%3A1162
http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/grandjury/GJ2007_final/5-3%20PVUSD.htm
One key finding was the purchase of educational materials from a corporation that the current superintendent (Dr. Mary Anne Mays) used to work for. The district paid more than $1.3 million for a reading curriculum that was not used and Dr. Mays did not site her past ties with the company while persuading her colleagues to purchase the curriculum. She reportedly received a stock option from the company.
Other juicy facts detail the districts fiscal mismanagement and wasteful spending.
A good summary written by Luis Alejo can be found here:
http://www.santacruzschoolnews.com/group/pajarovalleyunifiednews/forum/topic/show?id=941841%3ATopic%3A1162
PVUSD is a lame excuse for a district. They have time and time again...ignored (their own)commissioned reports to cut their administration costs. They spend HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS on (non-mandated) testing to prove our scores are getting higher. They also pay big bucks for administration who tweak the data, administer tests, administer curriculum, etc.
NOW...they pink slip over 170 teachers, who may or may not lose their jobs because we have to wait until "they" do the final budget. The very scores they seek to increase will fall because of larger class sizes...and I am NOT saying I give a shit about the test scores or that they are a true indication of student progress. BUT it is WACK that they are sabotaging their own 5 year plan.
Good teaching is not based on boxed curriculum or testing prowess. Good teaching is actually INexpensive if teachers are allowed to be creative, have control over their classroom, and empowered to actually do the job they have been TRAINED to do. At this point...they could have anyone teach a scripted lesson. BUT...they can't hire just anyone because we all need to have a degree, and gobs of training to do what a monkey can do...follow a script and score scantron tests.
BRING TEACHING BACK TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE! Believe in teachers...we know what we are doing! We know our kids, we are trained, in the trenches and we live with our students for a third of their entire day!
NOW...they pink slip over 170 teachers, who may or may not lose their jobs because we have to wait until "they" do the final budget. The very scores they seek to increase will fall because of larger class sizes...and I am NOT saying I give a shit about the test scores or that they are a true indication of student progress. BUT it is WACK that they are sabotaging their own 5 year plan.
Good teaching is not based on boxed curriculum or testing prowess. Good teaching is actually INexpensive if teachers are allowed to be creative, have control over their classroom, and empowered to actually do the job they have been TRAINED to do. At this point...they could have anyone teach a scripted lesson. BUT...they can't hire just anyone because we all need to have a degree, and gobs of training to do what a monkey can do...follow a script and score scantron tests.
BRING TEACHING BACK TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE! Believe in teachers...we know what we are doing! We know our kids, we are trained, in the trenches and we live with our students for a third of their entire day!
On the last day of school my son brought home an apparently brand new Social Studies textbook. The district is buying new books for next year, and his teacher didn't want to see them go in the trash. Another post mentions new math texts. Up to date books are important, but every year that my children have been in PVUSD their classrooms have run out of basic supplies like paper, the home and school club has been asked to fund art, music and reading intervention, and new textbooks (and unused workbooks) come home at the end of the school year because they are being replaced....
Can we save a few teachers by eliminating the salary of the person who designed this "budget"?
Can we save a few teachers by eliminating the salary of the person who designed this "budget"?
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