Dozens of educators in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District could have their positions cut by the end of this year after district leaders issued pink slips this week.
In light of its recent discussions pertaining to deficit spending, lower enrollment and a lesser number of teacher retirements, SMMUSD’s board of education previously approved a resolution that would allow it to layoff the equivalent of 45 full-time certificated employees at the conclusion of the academic year. According to state law, the district must notify any employee who might be cut by March 15, so Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Mark Kelly and Sarah Braff, president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association, were busy meeting with teachers throughout Thursday and Friday to inform them of their future.
“We know this is a difficult time for the district, and while we understand we must reduce our expenditures, we are not convinced that these reductions have been undertaken with an eye for helping students first,” Braff said when the topic of pink slips was first broached by the board. In fact, the union feels the district can save money using a multitude of other ways, which is why for the last four years, its members have asked the board to evaluate plausible cuts that can be made away from the classroom.
In March, Braff mentioned how the district could save as much as $6 million if it were to scale back professional development and consultant costs. On Thursday, she said, “We believe that a lot of other cuts can be made in other areas and we need to stay away from the classroom because teacher cuts would affect student learning.”
When Resolution No. 19-22 was first brought forth in February, Superintendent Ben Drati said, “We need this action in order to align our resources and this action gives the district this flexibility. We have to have a conversation around what we are going to have and not have because... we cannot afford how we are right now. We will be bankrupt in three years.”
Drati has also repeatedly stated that the district will not increase class sizes as a result of the cutbacks, and the literacy coaches who are affected by the district’s layoffs will be given an opportunity to reapply for a similar job with a new description.
Despite Drati’s remarks, dozens of parents, students and teachers have taken the podium at various meetings to speak about the prospective layoffs and fallout.
Some speakers have been brought to tears and expressed anger at the “skipping process”, which allows newer teachers to be retained over senior educators if they are more qualified and credentialed, while others have taken issue with the lack of cuts made to SMMUSD’s Personalized Project-Based Learning Pathway.
As many as 55 employees could be affected by the layoffs, according to communication recently forwarded to the board, but nothing is set in stone yet.
Until final notices are sent out sometime in mid-march, Braff said, “You’re in limbo, and it’s such a strain on people.”
brennon@smdp.com
