[Winona Online Democracy]
Joanie is technically correct. We did cut teachers last night at the board
meeting. However the number was 23 teachers and 1 administrator. Of the
23 teachers cut 19 were non-tenured staff. For the most part these people
were cut as a precautionary measure so the district does not end up with a
number of teachers in positions that are not needed or that we cannot
afford. We do not yet know our revenue for next year, and probably will
not have a definitive figure until late May or early June. We also do not
know the exact number of teachers needed in the elective areas at the high
school. These numbers will be determined once final student registration
is complete and staffing numbers are determined. Another factor to be
considered is the reduction of 3.2 positions at the middle school due to
declining enrollment. A reduction of this magnitude will probably result in
the loss of a program area that has not yet been determined. The process
for making that decision is still taking place and will involve meeting
with parents of middle school students. Since the program area has not yet
been determined we needed to make reductions in a number of areas that may
or may not be affected.
The only staff reductions that the board has approved to date are the 2.9
FTE positions to be reduced due to declining enrollment. We also needed to
anticipate the possible closing or chartering of the Ridgeway building and
this resulted in another 2.5FTE reduction.
The remaining four tenured teachers were PROPOSED to be placed on
unrequested leave of absence. These people have statutory and contractual
rights to a hearing to determine the validity of the reasons cited for the
action of the board. Strict statutory timelines
need to be considered in this process. These people may or may not be
recalled to partial or full positions depending on enrollment in the high
school and middle school.
The remaining position that was reduced involved an assistant principal at
the high school. This person needed to be cut to provide a position for
Ron Helmers who may be returning the assistant principal position due to
the elimination of the interim high school principal position.
Also, two or three of the non-tenured staff were hired as one or two year
replacements for teachers on leave of absence who will now be returning to
district. These people needed to be cut to make room for those returning
teachers.
When all is said and done, we anticipate that up to 65% -75% of the
non-tenured staff that were reduced may be offered a position in the district.
I realize that this is a very confusing explanation, but we are taking a
very conservative approach staffing based upon our current financial
condition and the uncertainty of additional funding from the legislature.
0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>Last night 34 teachers were 'cut' by our School Board. Today, there is no
>news coverage of this event. I have to ask . . . does anyone care?
>
>Recent research out of Princeton directly relates class size with student
>achievement (class sizes above 23 leading to lower student achievement).
>Class sizes at WSHS are already reaching 36, 38, 40. I have to ask . . .
>does anyone care?
>
>I do know that parents and grandparents of public school children care. I
>know that educators of public school children care. I know that our Supt.
>cares. I know that our School Board cares.
>
>But, I need to know . . . Does anyone who is not directly connected to the
>education of our community's children care?
>
>Does anyone else REALLY AND TRULY care?
>
>Joanie Heydt-nelson
>parent, teacher, taxpayer
>507-452-5814
>
>
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