The 111 Morgan Hill School District teachers who received pink
slips in mid-March could get a glimpse into the future at Monday
night
’s regular School Board meeting as trustees continue to discuss
cutting costs by eliminating programs and jobs.
The 111 Morgan Hill School District teachers who received pink slips in mid-March could get a glimpse into the future at Monday night’s regular School Board meeting as trustees continue to discuss cutting costs by eliminating programs and jobs.
During the meeting, trustees will be asked to approve reducing 36 positions in classified services (non-teaching) for next fall due to the lack of funds.
Also, trustees will be presented with recommendations for a second round of budget cuts. Those cuts total $2,036,967 and include a 48 percent reduction in the elementary music program.
The performance based budget prioritization commitee is recommending that class size reduction efforts remain in place for first and second grades.Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers President Mary Alice Callahan and Assistant Superintendent Denise Tate, who heads Human Resources for the district, have put together a supplemental retirement program for eligible teachers that could virtually eliminate the need for layoff notices for certificated personnel.
“There are probably dozens of people who should get rescinding notices,” said Callahan. “I’ve met with them (district administrators) and talked to them about what are some of the first cuts we should rescind. They are worried about the 21 retirees. There are 12 people currently signed up (for the new supplemental retirement program), and we need a minimum of 21 to offer the program. We’re meeting tonight (Thursday).”
All of the teachers that were noticed will appeal, unless the notices are rescinded, she said. The cost of the hearings to the district could be at least $600,000, in pay for substitute teachers, and hearing and attorney costs.
According to Tate, the estimate also includes two days of full pay for teachers to look for another job.
The hearings were originally scheduled for April 30, but due to the number of notices, April 28 and 29 have also been set aside.
Callahan is optimistic about the supplemental retirement program. It would offer the 82 eligible teachers (those who are age 55 or older and have at least 10 years service in the district) several options. According to Tate, the average salary of those eligible is $70,177; the average “replacement cost,” or salary of a less experienced teacher, is $38,495.
The 21 retirees needed for the program would produce, Tate said, “a positive revenue stream” of approximately $400,000 the first year.
“I think we’ll meet the 21 threshold, but beyond that I really don’t know,” Callahan said. “I’d love to get double that, but I don’t know. I haven’t met with every single person (who’s eligible for the program). I have met with every single one who got a notice.”
Tate indicated at one of the three public forums held by the district Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss budget issues that there could be news for at least some of the teachers at the next regular board meeting.
“We hope to bring a recommendation to the board Monday night,” she said.
Teachers, as well as parents, attended the forums to voice concerns and ask questions.
One of the big topics addressed by parents and teachers at the forums, as well as the last board meeting March 24, is class size reduction. The third grade reduction is one of the items on the chopping block.
“This is something that should not be touched,” El Toro Elementary third grade teacher Karen Havens said during Tuesday night’s forum at El Toro. “The board and the district should consider carefully before they do away with it. It took us so long to get it. I know there are things that have to go, but surely there are other things the board can look at.”
Callahan said she is pointing out to district officials the similarities between the roster of cuts recommended to the board by the performanced-based budget committee and the plan set forth by leadership from her union and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and its president, Bev Walker.
“I continue to point out where we have commonalities,” she said. “The hardest part for the board, I think, is getting started. When you really realize what the numbers are, you realize there’s really not a lot of choice. Ultimately, they have to balance the budget.
“In most cases, you have to chose it all. The big variable is retirees – how many more will determine what kinds of rescinding there can be. There is also a great interest not to cut class size reduction. We don’t know at this point where that is going to end up.”
Although she has not discussed the matter with all the board members, Callahan said she knows the union plan has support.
The Morgan Hill Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 7, at the District Office, 15600 Concord Circle. Details: 201-6000.
