Mountain View teachers protest layoffs
ONTARIO - For two days, Mountain View School District teachers and parents have rallied in front of their schools to protest layoffs and class-size increases.
The district has planned to eliminate 17 permanent teachers for the 2010-11 school year and seven temporary teachers on year-to-year contracts or temporary assignments.
The district has also proposed increasing class sizes from 20 students for every teacher to 25.
The district has planned to eliminate 17 permanent teachers for the 2010-11 school year and seven temporary teachers on year-to-year contracts or temporary assignments.
The district has also proposed increasing class sizes from 20 students for every teacher to 25.
Associated Mountain View Teachers organized the protests Tuesday and Wednesday at the district's four south Ontario schools and district office as well as after the eighth-grade commencement ceremony at Colony High School.
"We do understand that there is a budget crisis, but when you have 10 percent reserve, we don't understand why (the district) doesn't want to use that money to save jobs," union President Jacqueline Carter said.
Like many districts, Mountain View has to reduce its budget by $2.6 million in the next three years to remain fiscally solvent.
The district has had to run a deficit, and its ending fund balance has drained to just above the state minimum. Mountain View has a cushion of just $39,000 in the fund, district Superintendent Rick Carr said.
By law, districts must maintain a 3 percent reserve for economic uncertainty. The ending fund balance is now at 3.22 percent.
"We're deficit spending this year and for the next three years out, and spending all the available dollars we have down to the 3 required percent, and the money that is in the ending fund balance is already designated to be used for ongoing expenses," Carr said.
"It is so disturbing to lay off teachers and good people who work for the welfare of our district and students, but we also have to maintain fiscal solvency."
Carr said that although the district has targeted cuts away from the classroom and teachers, it can no longer maintain that course.
District officials and union have declared an impasse over increasing class sizes to 25 students in the next school year and over the plan for six furlough days - which would save the district $750,000.
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