More than 170 teachers in West Seattle and the rest of the district have been told their jobs will be cut after this school year ends. Tomorrow night, community members concerned about the teacher layoffs plan to rally before the school board’s scheduled 6 pm meeting at district HQ in Sodo (agenda here). We received a West Seattle-specific note about it today – read on:

The Seattle School District’s reduction in Force (RIF) has resulted in some 165 classroom teachers and 59 other educators being laid-off. There are 10 teachers being laid-off at West Seattle High School. At Madison Middle School three teachers (some of which have worked at the school for 3-6 years) are being RIFFed.and one 6th grade counselor. I am sure there are other schools in West Seattle also, being affected by these layoffs.

(Editor’s note: Statistics provided to us last month by Seattle Public Schools’ communications team included teacher layoffs at Lafayette, Pathfinder, Schmitz Park and West Seattle Elementary. The note we received continues below:)

These layoffs will disrupt the programs that are being provided to the students. They also directly go against the School District’s Strategic Plan of retaining the best teachers in the district. These layoffs will also increase class sizes. Washington State already ranks 46th in the nation in
teacher-to-student ratio.

The district seems to have enough money for 26 project management teams, countless consultants around the district, adopting new textbooks, but not enough to retain the people who actually teach the children and provide services to the children. Moreover, the district has a rainy day fund and interest from their capital fund, that could be used and is meant to be used during economic strife, to save teachers’ jobs.

On Wednesday June 3rd, 2009 Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson will be receiving her annual job performance review. Join parents, teachers, counselors, and other school staff to support the teachers and programs in the schools that provide excellent education to your children.

Come to the school District board meeting this Wednesday June 3rd. 5-6PM will be a rally. 6PM is the school board meeting. The rally and School Board Meeting are held at John Stanford Center, Seattle Public Schools. The address is 2445 3rd Ave, South. The phone number is 252-0000. If you are unable to make it to the meeting you can e-mail your concerns to the school board by going to www.SeattleSchools.org . Click onto Board members and e-mail them your concern.

Again, here’s the agenda for tomorrow night’s board meeting, including the list of speakers signed up to speak during the public-comment hour that opens each of these meetings – many to discuss the new Student Assignment Plan.