Teacher Layoffs Betray Newark Community: Letter To The Editor

Feb 7, 2018

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to inform the Newark Community that the NUSD board held a meeting yesterday. On the agenda was teacher lay-offs to deal with the $3.2 million budget deficit. The community has been actively participating in providing its' input.

Last fall, the board held a few "Budget Reduction Input" meetings where the Newark residents were encouraged to attend and were assured that their input will be considered. The community very clearly told the board that we didn't want any cuts at the classroom levels. We said No to teacher lay-offs and No to class size increase. We all hoped that District will show good faith and start the cuts at the top - at district level. Perhaps we can reach a compromise. We recently learned that the board ignored the community's wishes. Instead of making any cuts at the district level, they have decided to lay-off 20 certified employees including 10 K-6 grade teachers, 3 out of 5 counselors and many special education teachers. In addition, 15 temporary teachers with one year contracts have already gotten their pink slips.

Yesterday, the community came out again to speak to the board against the lay-offs but their pleas fell on deaf ears. All present board members voted "YES" to the lay-offs and class size increase. They betrayed Newark community's trust and disrespected our children and teachers. The district mission statement states, "Newark public schools inspire and educate all students to achieve their full potential and be responsible, respectful, productive citizens." Their unfair decision flies in the face of their own mission statement.

Impact of these lay-off will be increase in the class sizes to 29 students for K-3 grade and 35 students for 4-12th grade with ONLY one teacher per class. Only 1 high school counselor for 2000 students. This will have negative effect on the quality of education for Newark students. New teachers with energy and fresh ideas will leave. How are our kids going to reach their full potential with classes jam-packed? Teachers will not be able to do their jobs because they will be mostly focused on discipline. Board cited decreasing enrollment as one of the causes of the deficit. Why would anybody want to send their kids to a class with 35 other kids? How is that going to attract new families to the Newark School District?

Thank you so much,

Harinder Korhonen (A concerned parent and Newark resident)