Posted on May 05, 2010

In a shocking display of inhumanity and disrespect, four School Board members (John Lee Evans, Shelia Jackson, Katherine Nakamura and John deBeck) have voted to send unnecessary layoff notices to 112 probationary SDEA members. The irony that this action took place on National Day of the Teacher is not lost on us.

The Numbers Speak for Themselves:

SDUSD has a Human Resources Problem, NOT a Budget Problem

SDEA members recognize the District is in a tight spot, needing to cut about 250 teaching positions to balance their budget. But the District already has nearly 500 vacancies among the teaching ranks—making the 250-position cut easily attainable without a single layoff notice.

That’s because hundreds of temporary contract employees (many of whom have worked in our schools for five or more years) have already been told their positions will be cut. Dozens more SDEA members will retire or resign. These hundreds of employees will already be missed and their lives are already being disrupted. The School Board knew this when they met in a closed meeting yesterday—with no public notice that layoffs would be discussed—and yet 4 out of 5 voted to lay off 112 teachers. They are now filling their 250-position budget hole with over 600 teaching positions.

Why did four Trustees vote for layoffs?

Trustees Evans and Jackson had committed to SDEA members (on numerous occasions) that layoffs were the last possible action the Board would consider. In voting for layoffs, they join Trustees Nakamura and deBeck with their long and shameful history of voting against our students’ best interest. This action is a shocking reversal on the part of Evans and Jackson, and evidence that these four Trustees place a higher value on forming an unnecessary human buffer around their budget than on providing a stable learning environment for San Diego’s children.

Why add insult to injury with 112 more probationary layoff notices? Call or email these elected representatives and ask for yourself.

John Lee Evans: (858) 361-5151 or JohnLeeEvans@aol.com

Shelia Jackson: (619) 549-6299 or sheliajackson12@gmail.com

Katherine Nakamura: (619) 847-3192 or nakamura@cox.net

John deBeck: (619)208-2215 or jdebeck1@san.rr.com

And while you’re at it—take a moment to thank Trustee Richard Barrera for having the courage to stand with educators consistently, and to vote against layoffs: rbarrera1@sandi.net

The fight is not over. SDEA members have proven time and again that we can and will prevail in defending our students, our profession and each other. Talk to your site AR to stay informed and to find out what WE can do!