SPESD Trustees go over budget numbers again but find little good news on the horizon
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula News
Published: March 03, 2010
Trustees of the Santa Paula Elementary School District got an update last week on the district budget gap.
The district is looking at an adjusted budget deficit for 2010-2011 of about $2-million dollars. That number is expected increase to almost $5-million the following year. The schools are facing class size increases and cuts to programs. The district is negotiating with the teacher’s and classified employee’s unions on further cuts.
Eva Graves, California State Employees Association Labor Relations Representative told the board that they have been in negotiations over affects of layoffs since January. She said the reason for delay in progress at the bargaining table is that, “The district came to the unprepared to negotiate or to actually counter-propose.” She added that they have reached a stumbling block concerning workload issues. “This is a primary concern to our CSEA bargaining unit members. We are hopeful that the parties will conclude it and hopefully that the language we negotiate will definitely protect our bargaining unit members from being abused in terms of workload issues.”
Michelle Lorenko, a 1st Grade Teacher at Glen City School argued for not cutting class size. Said she was there to advocate for the students. “My main concern as a teacher is closing the achievement gap, she told trustees.” She said research shows that if early intervention does not take place the achievement gap will be so large by the 4th grade that the success rate for any intervention is minimal. Of students who receive early intervention nearly all students will learn to read. She asked board to take budget concerns with the students in mind. “I understand that’s cuts will be inevitable, however, what cuts that have to be made will impact our students’ achievement the least.”
Brenda DeJamaer, Library Education Specialist talked about importance of libraries and library assistants in the schools. “I know these are tough times and that we are looking to do more with less or even less with even less,” she said. “Library Assistant hours were reduced in 2003 and they are used to doing more with less. To totally eliminate a library assistant position would essentially close the library and cut access to those materials for our students.”
Norma Amaro an Instructional Assistant (IA) made an emotional presentation, urging board not to cut Instructional Assistant positions. She said they were even willing to go to a 4 or 3-day workweek. “What I do made me a better person,” she added.” Her thoughts were echoed by Barbara Ramirez a kindergarten Teacher at Glen City who said they need IA’s in the classroom.
Interim Superintendent, Dr. Kenneth Moffett told the gathering in the Glen City cafeteria, “These are very difficult times. This will probably be the most difficult financial time you’ve ever had in this school district. There will be no easy solutions.” He said Calif. Faces a 19-9 billion dollar deficit. The governor declared a fiscal emergency in January. The legislature proposed a package of 5-billion in cuts this week
Rey Frutos, an Outreach Coordinator at Blanchard School said teachers were the only ones who had input into the school calendar. “And in your judgment is the calendar teacher or student friendly?” He added that he is concerned about negative talk about the outreach program, not only from the teacher leadership but district administration. He asked board to “step up to the plate and say stop to this nonsense and let the process work itself through. I mean this with no disrespect. I admire Mrs. Ishida for coming up and fighting for her folks, but sometimes I wonder who I’m working for, the SPESD or is it President Ishida School District.”
Carolyn Ishida, President of the Santa Paula Federation of Teachers had this response to Frutos, “I really advise people to be very careful about taking personal potshots. And for some reason CSEA has taken that up. It is not the time to take personal attacks at each other. I think it’s inappropriate and unprofessional.”
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