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Pasadena Independent Mar 13, 2018
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The PUSD’s latest string of reductions will eliminate teachers from the following subjects: mathematics, English, social studies, computer science, music, art, and health. – Screenshot courtesy / KLRN
Reductions to include teachers, assistant principals, librarians, and more
By Gus Herrera
Last week, the Pasadena Unified School District’s (PUSD) Board of Education unanimously approved “Resolution 2444,” a move that will reduce the district’s number of certificated employees by 103.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
The reductions are the latest in the wake of the district’s fiscal stabilization plan, which was approved by the board on Feb. 8 and plans to make approximately $6.9 million worth of budget reductions for FY2017-18 and approximately $14.2 million for FY2018-19, according to PUSD staff’s report.
The plan came in response to a letter sent by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) on Jan. 19 urging the PUSD to take immediate action to restore its required minimum reserves for economic uncertainties. LACOE’s letter also cited projected operating deficits of $11.9 million for 2017-18, $21.2 million for 2018-19, and $23.9 million for 2019-20.
Therefore, faced with a structural deficit, the PUSD will have to continue to make reductions for the foreseeable future.
“Everything’s on the table,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald to the Pasadena City Council during a joint meeting on Feb. 15.
According to Resolution 2444, the latest reductions will include the elimination of 52.4 FTE elementary school teachers, 9.3 FTE middle school teachers, eight FTE high school teachers, eight resource teachers, four clinical psychologists, two high school assistant principals, 1.5 FTE middle school librarians, and more. Academic subjects that will be losing teachers include the following: mathematics, English, social studies, computer science, music, art, and health.
Although terminations will take into consideration order of seniority, the resolution does include some exceptions for qualified teachers assigned to advanced placement programs, international baccalaureate positions, and the English Learners programs.
Board Members Kim Kenne and Patrick Cahalan took issue with the termination of the health education teachers, citing the district’s five-credit health education graduation requirement.
“How will the health classes that are graduation requirements be taught next year if the teachers are laid off?” asked Kenne.
“I echo [Kenne’s] comment on the health requirement. I would suggest that we get this on the agenda very, very shortly or, perhaps, next board meeting I might just hold my breath until I pass out,” said Cahalan.
Board Member Patrick Cahalan urged the board to discuss the district’s health education graduation requirement as soon as possible. – Screenshot courtesy KLRN
Sean McNeley, health education teacher at Pasadena High School and Marshall, also warned the board about the potential consequences of eliminating health education positions:
“Never has there been a greater need for students to have an education in the area of health … public health risks, such as tobacco and marijuana use amongst teens, are on the rise. There are few, if any, places outside the health education classroom where students are getting accurate and responsible information regarding dangers of substances.”
Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, assistant superintendent, revealed that the health classes “can be embedded into other courses,” such as physical education and science. “The high school principals have also indicated that this is a model that will work,” she said.
Superintendent McDonald assured the board that there will be further discussions regarding the district’s health education graduation requirements “at a subsequent board meeting.”
When it came time to vote, Board Member Cahalan proposed an alternate resolution that would keep the librarian positions, but Eva Lueck, interim chief business officer, warned against making any modifications to the plan submitted to LACOE, “in speaking to the county, they are under the understanding that the fiscal stabilization plan is going to be implemented … I will advise you that the county is definitely reviewing the reductions to see what matches the report that was submitted to them.”
McDonald similarly cautioned the board, “we can have a conversation going forward about what to bring back, once we’ve identified additional cuts. But I would just urge the board to be very, very judicious in how you make cuts to the resolution, as matter of fact, I’d recommend against it.”
Cahalan’s substitute motion ultimately failed by a count of (4-2) and, despite approving the original resolution unanimously, the frustration amongst the school board was certainly palpable.
“It’s infuriating to me that we have to decide, ‘do we keep a health teacher or librarian?’ … because we need them all,” proclaimed Board Member Lawrence Torres. – Screenshot courtesy KLRN
“It’s infuriating to me that we have to decide, ‘do we keep a health teacher or librarian or school [psychologist]?,’ because we need them all,” said Board Member Lawrence Torres, “in large part, it’s because of the way that we fund education in California … this will be a continuing issue until we’re able to really look at how we can do that better,” he concluded.
