Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to the letter published in Friday’s
Dispatch from Michelle Nelson, President, Gilroy Teachers
Association. I agree with Michelle: it should be well known and
appreciated by the public that teachers spend their own money for
basic classroom supplies.
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to the letter published in Friday’s Dispatch from Michelle Nelson, President, Gilroy Teachers Association. I agree with Michelle: it should be well known and appreciated by the public that teachers spend their own money for basic classroom supplies. Even though this is the case in just about every public school, locally we must continue to find ways to provide sufficient instructional materials and classroom supplies for every student.
Last year, GUSD did spend $47,000 for costs incurred in certificated layoff hearings. This does not include the costs in staff time in preparing for the hearings. The question that is not addressed is why did the district have to spend these dollars?
The layoff process is traumatic for all involved. And layoff hearings are not held automatically. They are only held when those receiving layoff notices request a hearing. In the spring of 2002, there were no hearings.
In the spring of 2003, one teacher refused to request a hearing and others indicated they were asking for a hearing based on advice from Gilroy Teachers Association.
The hearings took two full days. The administrative law judge’s 24-page decision found in favor of the district. Here are two quotes from that decision:
Page 5: “Respondents’ (those requesting a hearing) various and respective contentions are without merit and are rejected.”
Page 23 “18. The district’s lay-off action is necessary. The district’s proposed action is consistent with the law. And, the district’s contemplated lay-off action is reasonable in its execution.”
Certificated layoffs netted approximately $200,000 of the $1,043,000 cost savings for 2004-05 to the district’s general fund. It was not the district’s decision to have layoff hearings. We agree the $47,000 was an unnecessary expense. It IS a matter of priorities.
Edwin Diaz, Superintendent,
Gilroy Unified School District
