After hearing fury and cries pour out over the course of more than four hours of public comment, the Sweetwater Union School District board still voted 3-2 to move forward with drastic employee and learning center cuts to remedy their ongoing $30 million budget deficit.
The proposed cuts include 23 librarians, all 32 learning center teachers, eight assistant principals and more than 150 teachers, in addition to all 12 of SUHSD’s learning centers.
Superintendent Karen Janney said that the cuts will save around $20 million.
All of SUHSD’s high schools are home to learning centers that provide students with an alternative route to high school graduation through both independent study and one-on-one assistance on campus five days a week.
Students may opt for this path due to a variety of reasons including medical needs, mental health or because the traditional learning setting isn’t compatible with their learning style.
Students came to the meeting and shared their experiences being enrolled at their high school’s learning center. From family issues to mental health issues — students explained that the learning center restored their confidence and was the reason they were able to stay on track for graduation despite adversity in their life.
“I have felt like I have been treated like all my peers except for now, now I feel like you’re taking away a program that helps kids like me. The learning center has helped me in so many ways and has made me into a more mature student… ” one student said while fighting back tears.
Sylvia McBride, a teacher librarian at Castle Park high school, said the library is the heart of the school and librarians have a positive impact on student achievement.
“If we want, truly want, to put students first, then do not cut teachers or teacher librarians or anyone for that matter, these are the individuals that make the biggest difference in the lives of the kids, so let’s cut from the top instead,” McBride said.
Many speakers throughout the night expressed the same sentiment that SUHSD should cut from the top rather than cut educators.
Still, the board ultimately voted to make the cuts. Board members Paula Hall and Nicholas Segura voted against passing the resolution.
All teachers and librarians that are being cut must receive pink slips, or notices about the potential layoff, prior to March 15 per California education code. After pink slips go out, the board has to give employees a final notice by May 15. The next SUHSD board meeting is scheduled for March 9 at 6 p.m.
