There is some good news in the Morgan Hill School District, in
the midst of budget woes: termination notices issued in March for
many teachers and two district directors have been rescinded.
There is some good news in the Morgan Hill School District, in the midst of budget woes: termination notices issued in March for many teachers and two district directors have been rescinded.
Facing budget cuts of $3.4 million, the district issued pink slips to more than 100 teachers in March.
Teachers whose jobs will be terminated at the end of the current school year must be given their notices by March 15 in order to allow them time to find a new position for the upcoming school year. Further action by the district was necessary by May 15.
To try to retain as many of the teachers as possible, the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers and the district collaborated to come up with a new supplemental employee retirement program, or SERP. Eligibility was determined by age and length of time in the district: an employee must be 55 years old and have 10 years of service in the district.
New teachers, or those with less experience, would not be as high on the pay scale as teachers closer to retirement, thus helping the district’s bottom line.
“We are pleased, of course, to be taking the action for Pat and Linda,” Superintendent Carolyn McKennan said Monday. “But there are those three other employees for whom today’s resolution was not quite what they would have hoped … Sure circumstances can change, but these employees are still left in an indecisive mode. We could see changes after the governor’s May revise on the 19th, but we had to act before the 15th.”
McKennan said Monday morning’s special meeting was not mentioned at the May 5 meeting because the district was just made aware that the meeting was necessary last week.
“This was not on our radar screen,” she said. “We have not been through this process to this extent before. When is final final? We were just advised by counsel last week that we needed to take another final action on this.”
Kinoshita said he had mixed feelings about Monday’s meeting.
“Not just this vote, but the whole process is bittersweet,” he said. “The fact is that we have to do it. I don’t think we should have to lay off anybody in the district, but unfortunately that’s not realistic. I am, however, happy that we have come so far since March, that we’re down to only 2.8 whose notices we haven’t rescinded. I think it’s incredible, actually.”
Assistant Superintendent Denise Tate said Monday that, by the May 10 deadline, many of the eligible employees had taken advantage of SERP.
“Thirty-six teachers have chosen to take advantage of the program,” she said. “At this point in time, we have a total of 39 certificated retirees, we have 11 classified retirees and five resignations (certificated).”
One of the benefits to the district of teachers electing to take advantage of SERP is that it saves the district approximately $20,000 per retiree, after paying for their replacements.
“The 36 retirees will bring the district $720,000 total,” Tate said. “I would anticipate that the superintendent and the board will consider reinstating third grade class size reduction at the May 19 meeting.”
The 20:1 ratio of students to teachers in the third grade, instituted three years ago, was on the chopping block during budget discussions. District third grade teachers lobbied the board to save class size reduction, as did parents.
District staff told School Board trustees at the April 17 meeting that in order to keep class-size reduction at the third grade level, a total of 35 teachers would have to take part in the supplemental retirement program. Ninety-two teachers were eligible; the deadline to sign up was May 10.
Class size reduction at the third grade level is important to Superintendent McKennan, Tate said.
“She was pushing for this through the whole (budget) process,” she said. “She is very committed to it. And our principals are committed to it, our teachers are committed to it. We’re very pleased that we now have an opportunity to recommend to the board that it be saved.”
Tate said the district has taken most of the budget-related action related to teachers now.
“We have completed the certificated employee notices,” she said. “We have rescinded all but 2.8 of those notices, and two of those individuals are working on acquiring emergency credentials so they can continue to work. The third is credentialed, has tenure, so it looks like everyone will have an income.”
The next step with district teachers, Tate said, is to fill the holes left by retirees.
“As a result of receiving so many retirements so early, which we appreciate very much, we have advertised our secondary school positions,” she said. “We are particularly looking for math and science teachers. Those we need to shore up immediately. Now we are also looking for some English at the 7-12 level, and social studies, modern language.”
Tate said the available positions are posted on the district website, www.mhu.k12.ca.us, and interested teachers can fill out an application online. Applicants may also go to the District Office, 15600 Concord Circle.
The retirees, both certificated and classified, will be honored with a reception on June 5.
“We hope the retirees will invite their families and that the school sites will come and applaud and celebrate their retirees,” she said. “Although we will miss them and their expertise, we appreciate what they have done for their district and we know SERP is a very positive thing for them.”
Two administrative positions have also been reinstated, Tate said. Monday morning, a special board meeting was held calling for the “non-reemployment” of 4.8 full time equivalent certificated employees.
The trustees – Board President Tom Kinoshita, Shellé Thomas, Del Foster and Jan Masuda – voted unanimously to not rehire 2.8 employees.
“Direction was given to reinstate Patricia Blanar (director of curriculum and assessment) as full director and to reinstate Linda Mann (director of curriculum and staff development) as partial director and elementary school principal,” said Tate. “It is still our hope that we will be able to find funding to reinstate her as a full director.”
