Snoqualmie Valley School District issued cuts to nine teachers May 13. The district’s expenditure reduction plan, a blueprint for the 2009-2010 budget, required that the district shave 19.5 certified teachers, but attrition lowered the number the district had to release.
Of the nine teachers, two of them were part-time. The district would not say how many teachers were cut from the elementary, middle and high school levels, respectively, citing the need to protect the teachers’ identities.
With fewer teachers in the classroom, class sizes will increase. If one school is hit harder than another, the district will reassign teachers within the district to create equality in class size, schools spokeswoman Carolyn Malcolm said. She added that the district was working with those who had been laid off.
“HR is meeting one on one with those certificated staff to share resources that are available,” Malcolm said. “I know their colleagues and principals are supportive of them, too.”
The district has yet to notify its classified employees and secretaries about job cuts. Affected classified staff may experience a drop in hours or lose their jobs, but Malcolm said district administrators were still formulating the number of hours they would need to cut.
The district had to notify teachers of cuts by May 15, according to its contract with the Snoqualmie Education Association. The Snoqualmie Secretaries Association and the Public School Employees of Snoqualmie’s contracts only require that workers receive two-weeks notice.
Malcolm said, once district administrators learn how much money they will receive from the state, they may be able to restore teachers and programs. Gov. Chris Gregoire was expected to sign the two-year state budget May 19. From there, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction will help districts across the state formulate their allotment.
If there is a recall, teachers will be hired back based on specialty and seniority.
As more cuts are made, Malcolm asked the Snoqualmie Valley to be supportive of those who lose their jobs.
“This is an extremely difficult time for our entire learning community, and we regret that these reductions are necessary,” Malcolm said. “We are especially concerned for those employees who will be impacted by reduced or eliminated positions. Education funding is a serious problem in our state, and we’re hopeful we may be able to restore some programs and staff as funding becomes available.”
District administrators have to make cuts in other areas, as well. They are examining a new custodial staffing model that would save the district $457,000.
The middle school extracurricular sports program is also under the magnifying glass. District Teaching and Learning Director Don McConkey, a group of parents and community organizations are gathering information about student enrollment and costs for interscholastic sports. The new sports program will have to cut $400,000. Some of that money may come from reduced coach stipends, which are still under negotiation for a new contract.
An update about the interscholastic sports program will be provided in the district office at the 7:30 p.m. May 28 Snoqualmie School Board meeting.
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