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The District Schools Facing the Most Layoffs Are Overwhelmingly Poor
By Mario Koran, Voice of San Diego
Six years ago, as principal of Central Elementary in City Heights, Cindy Marten argued that because poor schools tend to employ the newest teachers, they’re hurt disproportionately by layoffs.
Now, as superintendent of San Diego Unified, Marten is the one laying off teachers. But one thing hasn’t changed: Low-income schools still bear the brunt of the cuts.
Last week, San Diego Unified began sending out layoff notices to about 1,500 employees.
That has many teachers worried and angry. The San Diego Education Association, the local teachers union, is encouraging its members to post these notices on their doors at schools.
Cecil Steppe: Why is our superintendent revoking these rights? Why now?”
On Tuesday, January 12, parents and teachers from Gompers Preparatory Academy pleaded with the San Diego Unified school board to restore on-loan agreements the district made with four of their founding staff members 15 years ago.
Director Vincent Riveroll, executive assistant Paz Garcia, assistant director Lisa Maples and Welcome Center lead Judith Franceschi were notified a year in advance their on-loan status would be phased out July 1, 2021. They would have to choose between keeping their jobs at the Chollas View charter school or keeping their employment with the district.
Deidre Walsh, director of the district’s Office of Charter Schools, stated in an October 27, 2020 memo, “As members represented by the district’s labor organizations, the four on-loan employees receive district salaries and benefits, as well as other protections and benefits offered by the collective bargaining agreements. In c
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The principal and three other employees at a popular southeast San Diego charter school are likely to stay now that the San Diego Unified School Board has voted unanimously to let them keep their benefits.
The vote came Tuesday, after lobbying by leaders, parents and other supporters of the school, Gompers Preparatory Academy. Some supporters had feared the four founding employees would leave Gompers if they were to lose their benefits.
But critics say those benefits the founding employees get from San Diego Unified are more generous than what Gompers gives its employees, and that Gompers should improve benefits for all of its employees.
San Diego Unified School District may cut $155 million from budget; approves 370 early retirements
Buses line up in the San Diego Unified School District.
(File)
The district projects budget cuts for next year while not knowing how much state and federal funding it will get.
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The San Diego Unified School District board has approved an interim budget that projects $155 million in cuts next school year and $41 million the following year.
The board also approved early-retirement incentives for 370 employees, including 130 educators.
Four teachers with a combined 115 years of experience at La Jolla’s Torrey Pines Elementary School are retiring this month, leaving the school with lessons in collaboration and community.