Rowland teachers hold vigil to protest layoffs

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Teacher Valerie Mayanosik, left, Leonard McLaren and Mary Lugo join a candlelight vigil in front of the Rowland Unified School District offices on Tuesday. (Mike Mullen / Correspondent)

Teachers in the Rowland Unified School District held a candlelight vigil Tuesday outside a special board meeting. Inside, the school board planned to issue pink slips to 88 teachers and administrators.

“The message the teachers are striving to deliver is put the students first,” said Christine Zukowski, president of the Association of Rowland Educators. “Giving notices to teachers is not following the strategic plan.”

Superintendent Maria Ott called the cuts “heart breaking.” “It so hard to make these decisions but we’re facing a large deficit because of the state budget,” Ott said.

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