Carolyn's Corner

February 24, 2004
There are so many issues swirling around the district right now, I don't know where to start. The most pressing issues for certificated staff seem to be the opening of the new schools with the resulting changes in boundaries, reorganization, next year's budget and lay-offs. All are critical and will affect a significant number of our members so I will use this space to try to clarify these issues and plans for dealing with them.

Because the district will be opening two new elementary schools and a new high school next year, many of the district boundaries will be changed which will affect student population numbers at many sites. In some instances, this may cause some displaced teachers at elementary sites as well as the anticipated displacement of staff at Aptos and Watsonville High Schools. At the elementary level, any displaced teachers will be given their choice of any district openings for which they are qualified before any transfer requests are honored or outside people hired. These selections will be made by seniority with no probationary or tenured teachers being bumped from their present positions, regardless of seniority. The categorical teaching staff is vulnerable, as they have no seniority date if they do not have tenure in the district. The high school positions will be filled on a voluntary basis first, but will follow the same process of displaced teachers if there are not enough volunteers to fill the positions.

Due to the volatile nature of the state budget which directly affects the district's budget, the Board has instructed staff to lay off positions, including those of counselors and release time teachers by the March 15th deadline. The fate of these positions will depend on the success or failure of Propositions 57 & 58 which will determine the state funding of education for next school year along with the results of PVFT negotiations. Until all of the variables are sorted out, salary, benefits, and some positions are subject to negotiation and ratification. If there are lay off notices, PVFT will engage legal counsel to provide direction and support to those receiving them as they go through the hearing process.

Finally, reorganization, better known as secession in the past, is back on the Board of Trustees' agenda for consideration. PVFT has opposed this plan in the past, and the Executive Board has again passed a resolution opposing it. Soon your Building Reps will survey members at your site asking for your opinion on the issue. Each Rep has a copy of the district study of the effects of the reorganization if you would like to read through it. The Board is expected to take action on going forward with a petition at their March 3 meeting. There really appears to be little support for it from much of the community, but time will tell. So stay tuned for the next installment on all of these issues. In the meantime, stay dry, avoid stress, and keep doing the wonderful job that you are all doing!

Carolyn Savino