Cuts to bring layoffs, new school schedules (Daily Journal)

Burlingame special education English teacher, Steve Labrum, began his work day last Thursday like any other in class by 8 a.m. Two hours later, Labrum was fired. He was one of five temporary teachers who were told Sept. 22 would be their last day teaching in the San Mateo Union High School District. The cuts are just the beginning of what's to come at local high schools. Upcoming budget cuts are more than lost dollars it means new schedules for some students, a different routine for teachers, temporary teacher layoffs and countless other adjustments.

A number of incorrect property tax projections, county tax rebates, rising special education costs and late notifications led to the district's current deficit position, said Superintendent Sam Johnson. The County Office of Education is requiring the district to create a plan to end the year with $2 million in its reserve a feat that requiring the district to cut $3.5 million. The district is creating a list of suggested cuts to be reviewed and finalized by Sept. 21. The plan of attack: make cuts. The district is in the process of asking teachers, parents and staff for suggested cuts. All suggestions, even ones which would not change the situation, are put on a list. Currently, the list has 69 suggestions including reducing the number of temporary teachers, reducing after-school sports programs, cutting coaching stipends for winter and spring sports, increasing the number of special education students in a class and reducing security on campus. Final cuts will be made Sept. 28. Last week, the first round of temporary teachers one of the many budget items on the chopping block were given notice. Labrum began working at Burlingame in 2004 but is still considered a temporary teacher while he works on his credentials at San Francisco State University. For Labrum the news means he needs to start looking for another job but he doesn't know what will happen to his students. The kids are the ones who are going to be losing out and the other teachers who will have to pick up the slack, who have to plan another class,? he said.

More layoffs will happen through the end of the month. The loss of teachers will mean one of two things a teacher will need to step in and teach a new class or the students' schedules will be rearranged. Johnson hopes the reorganization will be worked out by the end of October. The district will attempt to find a teacher who can take on another class before it moves around students, said Johnson. With the new seven-period day, many teachers have a prep period as well as an alternative duty period time for the teacher to work on a special project. Teachers with this extra period could be asked to teach a class without a teacher for a stipend, said Johnson. There are a large number of teachers in a position to be assigned a fifth class. We certainly would talk to teachers but right of assignment is the administrative prerogative … We're working in unusual times. We're making some decisions that none of us would chose to make,? said Johnson. If a teacher cannot be found, students will need to be moved around. This could mean new classes and a new schedule for students in these classes. Principals are looking at these students' schedules to see who can be moved, said Johnson. There is no telling at this point how many students could end up with a new class schedule.

At Hillsdale High this reorganization of teachers and students could be detrimental to the school's small learning communities. Students at Hillsdale attend classes in one of four houses.? In each house the English, math, science and history teachers work with the same students. Each teacher is also responsible to monitor the progress of about 20 students. If we only had counselors there would be 500 students to one counselor. With 20 to 22 [students] to one [teacher] there is always an adult that can know every younger person in this school well. But that's what's in danger,? said 14-year English teacher Greg Lance. Creating a small school environment within a large student body took Hillsdale a number of years to complete. Since implementing the program a few years ago, the school has seen a significant raise in its test scores and an increase in students eligible for California universities. The school already cut the program for seniors this year in an effort to cut the budget. If teachers are let go at Hillsdale teachers will have less time to work together to create lesson plans and advise students. Basically, the new system at Hillsdale could collapse, Lance said. The district seems to be asking the faculty at Hillsdale to choose between protecting the financial health and well being of our families and the success of students who have typically been underserved in this district,? he said. This devil's bargain puts teachers in the unfair position of weighing the passion and commitment we naturally feel for our own families against the passion and commitment we also feel for our students and the new Hillsdale we have spent 10 laborious years creating.?

– Written by Fiona