PORT TOWNSEND — After approving a projection reducing teachers for the upcoming school year, Port Townsend School Board Chair Beth Young ended the discussion with a sobering quote.
“This is a terrible thing to have to do on teacher appreciation week,” Young said.
“Hopefully, this is only a worst-case scenario.”
That “terrible thing” was approving a resolution reducing full time instructional staff by 6.94 full-time employee positions for the 2009-2010 school year.
The resolution — which passed unanimously by the five board members Monday night — was what Superintendent Tom Opstad said was the most conservative estimate he could put together based on current enrollment projections.
The district is looking at declining enrollment this year and will likely be receiving less money from the state as a result.
“The funding formulas drive staffing based on student enrollment,” Opstad said.
“In terms of certificated employees this is it.
“This is the number that breaks us even.”
The number reduces elementary teachers from 26.5 full time employees to 24.516, elementary specialists from 4.4 to 2.86, secondary teachers from 32.9 to 30.1 and support staff from 8.3 to 7.5.
However, special education instructors will see a bump, going from 6.5 full time employees to 7.5. Other specialist positions will also bump up from 3.8 to 4.384.
No specifics have been determined on which teachers will not be rehired for the 2009-2010 school year. The district has until five days before the last day of school to notify instructors of decisions.
Also, no decisions on changes in numbers of classified workers such as food staff, janitorial or bus drivers have been made.
Opstad said he intends to have most of these decisions completed by the end of May to give the board a clear look at the budget for next year as early as possible.
School board members said they still didn’t know if this was a final number and still may add teachers.
“This is just the worst-case scenario,” said Anne Burkhart.
“We can still add more teachers” [if enrollment goes up].
John Eissinger said this decision just set a floor, not a ceiling, to the school district’s hiring.
“We can’t go below this number after [May] 15,” he said.
“We can hire more than this if that’s what we need.
“It’s always easier to find a teacher than to fit into a budget we don’t have money for.”
Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
