Seattle Public Schools goes public with layoff totals

Three days after confirming reports that teachers around the district were being notified of layoffs, Seattle Public Schools has just gone public with the total number of layoffs: “Approximately 172 teachers and other certificated staff (approximately 5% of the total certificated workforce),” according to a news release just sent out. Read on for the full text of the announcement (which does not contain a school-by-school breakdown):

Seattle Public Schools Announces Reductions in Force Due to Funding Shortfalls

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D. today confirmed that the School District is implementing a Reduction in Force (RIF) in response to an estimated $34 million budget shortfall for 2009-10. The certificated RIF will affect approximately 172 teachers and other certificated staff (approximately 5% of the total certificated workforce), although Dr. Goodloe-Johnson said she was optimistic that retirements and resignations would allow the District to recall a number of the individuals who are being laid off.

“Closing a $34 million budget gap requires a combination of strategies,” said Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. She noted that the District has already implemented a number of budget-cutting strategies, including a reduction in central office staff, hiring freezes, increased efficiencies in operations such as transportation and nutrition services, closing schools, a responsible use of reserves, and freezing Cost-of-Living-Adjustments.

“This is a very painful decision to have to make,” Dr. Goodloe-Johnson said, “We worked for many months to keep budget cuts away from the classroom. It is extremely difficult to lay off teachers and school-based staff, people who make a difference in students’ lives every day.”

Goodloe-Johnson stressed that District leaders acknowledge the dedicated work of teachers and other school staff, whose efforts are crucial to support every student’s success.

The certificated RIF is implemented based on seniority within teaching or job category based on contractual agreements with the Seattle Education Association. Staff members subject to a RIF have been informed directly. Seattle Public Schools plans a series of counseling and resource supports for staff who receive layoff notices.

“We deeply regret that we must implement a Reduction in Force,” said Dr. Goodloe-Johnson said. “My staff and I have worked hard to keep cuts as far away from the classroom as possible, and we will continue to develop strategies to support our students, classrooms and schools.”

SeattleTeacher May 15, 2009 (6:31 pm)

This does not include all of the 1st and 2nd year teachers whose provisional contracts were not renewed.

cc May 15, 2009 (8:29 pm)

I dont see how to survive with less teachers the school teachers are teaching too many students per classroom as it is. If anything they need more help. I was just in my first graders classroom yesterday and am appauled at the number of students so far behind who need more help than 1\25th of the teachers time. Lets not forget the diverse population in Seattle and how many of these kids have the language barrier to get past before they can even start to learn what the teachers are trying to teach them.

WSGuy May 15, 2009 (10:22 pm)

Mayor Nickels should step up, and donate his salary to keep some teachers around!

Michael May 17, 2009 (11:00 pm)

Great parody of the Nickels-haters, WSGuy. Does the things a good parody should do: makes fun of a well-known stereotype (the political snipers on blogs and newspaper sites) and poses a ridiculous premise (that his salary would help much at all).
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Keep up the good work, and those who want to try sarcasm or parody in the future, take notes!

OP May 17, 2009 (11:36 pm)

Agreed, Michael.

Any serious discussion about saving our schools should start with cuts to the ‘middle managers’ (for lack of a better term at the moment) in the school district, followed by an audit of the entire school budget, then a full financial disclosure by the teacher’s union and their expenditures and impacts on school budgets (no doubt that those numbers would REALLY tick off parents), plus another audit on the countless specialty school programs that suck money and produce little in return, THEN we might get somewhere….but Mayor Nickels (and Dimes) salary would barely make a dent….

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