A number of elements constituted Thursday’s school board meeting
at Gilroy Unified School District at 7810 Arroyo Circle, from staff
recognition, the cutting of seven part-time home-to-school bus
drivers, changes in math periods for junior high schools and a
continued focus on lobbying state representatives to throw schools
a fiscal lifeline.
A number of elements constituted Thursday’s school board meeting at Gilroy Unified School District at 7810 Arroyo Circle, from staff recognition, the cutting of seven part-time home-to-school bus drivers, changes in math periods for junior high schools and a continued focus on lobbying state representatives to throw schools a fiscal lifeline.
“I find it unacceptable that you and other Republican members of the legislature are blocking the ability of the citizens of California to have a say in addressing theses issues,” read GUSD Board President Rhoda Bress from a letter she drafted to state Sen. Sam Blakeslee.
Bress was referring to the district’s frustration that a measure to extend temporary tax extensions – which would help maintain state funding for schools – will not be put before voters in a special June ballot.
Over the past five years, Bress pointed out GUSD has lost 20 percent of its revenues.
“We are drowning,” she read. “Your lack of responsiveness to our critical needs has been duly noted … we will not forget if you abandon us in our hour of need.”
The conclusion of her letter was met with applause.
Recognized
– During the Annual Recognition & Awards Celebration held Wednesday at the Ranch Golf Club in San Jose by the Association of California School Administrators Region VIII 2010-11, three out of 17 administrators awarded in Santa Clara County came from GUSD: Salvatore Tomasello, principal of Ascension Solorsano Middle School; Silvia Reyes, principal of Las Animas Elementary School; and Kim Filice from the GUSD Human Resources Department.
Approved
– Resolution: Elimination/Reduction of classified positions within the California School Employees Association, effective the 2011-12 school year. This measure to reduce/restructure 24 classified positions, eliminate two full-time positions and one part-time position in GUSD passed unanimously. This also included the elimination of seven part-time home-to-school bus drivers.
Several speakers showed up to protest on behalf of the cuts, including Gilroy High School senior Fatima Magallanes, who implored trustees to not cut a registrar from payroll during the month of July.
“That’s when transcripts are due,” she pointed out. “How are we supposed to send them?”
As the vote went down the line of board members, trustee Jaime Rosso voted “yes,” but added, “under protest.”
GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores told attendees if there was anyway the district could avoid these cuts, they would.
“We are in the most amazing fiscal crisis that we can imagine,” she said.
– Resolution to support California’s Week of Action, May 9-13. The resolution passed unanimously.
“Next week is an entire week of statewide focus on our budget crisis,” said Flores.
On Friday May 13, the Gilroy Unified School District will give a presentation to the Government Relations Committee on the state budget and how it will affect the school district. Leadership Gilroy Class of 2011 will also be joining the first portion of the meeting in order to hear the presentation, and will later be visiting schools for the rest of the day. During next week there will also be public teacher rallies in Gilroy focusing on the budget crisis. On Tuesday or Thursday of next week, teachers will be passing out informative fliers to parents either before or after school. Wednesday will be day of the teacher, and all teachers will wear black or a black arm band. At 3:30 p.m. Friday, Flores, the Gilroy Teachers Association and classified staff will be at the corner of First Street and Wren Avenue with signs and fliers.
– Resolution: Day of the Teacher. The resolution presented by Flores to declare May 11, 2011 as “Day of the Teacher” was passed unanimously by the school board.
“Our staff is the key to unlocking the hopes and dreams of our students,” she said. “We want to recognize them by having this board adopt the resolution.”
– Resolution: Classified Employees Week. Approval for declaring May 17-21, 2011 as a week for recognizing and appreciating classified employees was passed unanimously by the board.
– Resolution: Middle school double math periods for all seventh and eighth graders. The decision to increase middle school math classes from 45 minutes to 90 minutes passed unanimously by the board, but after a lengthy, in-depth discussion.
In writing
– A letter to California state Sen. Sam Blakeslee by GUSD Board President Rhoda Bress.
We are considering the unthinkable: Cancellation of home-to-school transportation, closing of schools, decreasing school counseling hours, the elimination of important programs such as intervention classes for our neediest students, sports and music and more. In other words, we are slowly and painfully dismantling all that we have worked so hard to build.
– A resolution by Gilroy City Council in support of a California state budget that protects funding for local government and schools.
Whereas the Gilroy City Council strongly urges the California State Legislature and Governor to approve a state budget that appropriately funds local schools and that does not diminish funding to municipalities, pass unfunded state mandates onto local governments, or interfere with local programs in support of economic development and job creation
– A letter to Blakeslee from GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores.
Unfortunately, due to the legislature’s lack of action regarding placing the tax extensions on the June ballot, we are now faced with cutting $5 million dollars more, potentially, $12 million dollars total…we are the largest employer in Gilroy and an additional salary reduction of 10 percent would put many of our employees in financial peril.
