Eight high school teachers in Scotts Valley have received preliminary pink slips in an effort to shave $1.9 million off of the school board’s budget over the next two years.
Eight high school teachers in Scotts Valley have received preliminary pink slips in an effort to shave $1.9 million off of the school board’s budget over the next two years. The pink slips were given to teachers of math, English, Spanish, and social studies, all core subjects. Two of the teachers were told that their hours would be reduced.
Now teachers with the Scotts Valley Education Association are considering furloughs in an effort to spare their colleagues their jobs. The furloughs, they say would take place during professional development days. They would not have an impact on classroom hours. The problem, says Ann Codd, president of the Education Association, is that reduced workdays would impact the retirement payout of teachers nearing the end of their careers. The payout is based on the last three years of teaching. She is also concerned that the furlough might not prevent the pink-slipped teachers from losing their jobs.
One potential alternative to the furloughs is a parcel tax on the district, but trustees are concerned that in these tough economic times, residents will not support such a measure. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
