Ypsilanti school board approves 19 teacher layoffs
The Ypsilanti school board Tuesday night approved issuing layoff notices to 19 teachers effective June 12.
The 4-3 vote came after a lengthy discussion on why teachers from certain departments were being laid off, the board’s role in approving the layoffs and a 4-3 vote rejecting a measure to table the issue until more information was provided.
Andy Fanta
Fanta asked for the administration to provide teachers’ names, where they teach, their subject, the subject in which they are qualified to teach and the amount of time they have taught in the district.
Trustee Floyd Brumfield said getting that information would take more time and he had faith the administration had selected the correct people to lay off.
“I say let’s do this,” he said.
The layoffs are part of the district’s state-mandated deficit elimination plan, and will come at a savings of $1.85 million. Though 19 teachers are receiving pink slips, 23 positions are being cut. Four teachers have already retired. Another round of cuts is expected next summer, and the district plans to eliminate 40 positions in all.
David Bates
Berman questioned why several teachers from the music department were being laid off. Among those performing arts teachers receiving pink slips are Kristen Nester, Estabrook’s music teacher; Steve Feltner, West Middle School band director, and Elizabeth Patterson, YHS choir director.
Parents and students spoke passionately during a 90-minute public comment period about the need to keep the music program intact.
Fred Smith, a music teacher from Ann Arbor Public Schools with a daughter at Ypsilanti High School, said he was shocked to hear about possible layoffs and changes to the music program.
“To the district, I say (the music teachers) are a bargain,” he said. “You look at the price, you look at the number students they serve and other programs you have, and per student, per capita, you are getting a bargain. Consider it carefully - what you lose may be something you can't regain.”
Several students said they come from outside the district through the Schools of Choice Program, and that they chose Ypsilanti schools for the music program.
“I am considering going to Huron (High School in Ann Arbor) next year,” Daniela Romero told the board.
But administrators said the layoff don't mean the music program is being cut.
Superintendent Dedrick Martin and human resources director John Fulton said layoffs were based on seniority in the subjects in which the district projected needing fewer teachers. Fulton said because a middle school and elementary school will be closed, the lowest-ranking performing arts teachers were being laid off.
Fulton added that the list should “change dramatically” once retirements and resignations are tendered in the coming months, and estimated that half to three-fourths of the teachers receiving pink slips will be called back.
“By cutting these positions, are we cutting the program? No,” Fulton said. “Based on what we see at the high school, we will have a full-time band teacher and will probably have a full-time choir teacher. Who that person will be will be is based on seniority.”
Fulton said the district isn’t under contractual obligation to notify the teachers now, but thought it should do so in the event those teachers would like to seek other jobs.
Fanta's motion to table the issue was voted down 4-3, with Berman, Fanta and Devaney voted for it.
“Quite frankly I’m stunned my motion to table did not pass,” Fanta said. “Am I the only one who thinks the business of a school district should not only be transparent but there should be a supporting rationale?” he said.
“I take my role on this board very seriously as an oversight role,” he said emphatically. “This is not on some mundane level of ‘Are you with us or against us' … I’m tired of doing business like this - ‘Well, don’t worry; we can rehire this guy back; there will maybe be some retirement; this, that - wow, what a way to run a multi-million dollar organization.”
Floyd Brumfield
“We as board members don’t make decisions on who should be laid off - it’s not our call,” he said. “We have people hired and employed to do that.”
Fanta said he took issue with that, and reiterated all he was asking for was a picture of how the district arrived at its list.
“How well do we as a board wish to be informed?” Fanta asked.
Ypsilanti Education Association president Kelly Powers sought to clarify that the union had been directed by the administration to make the cuts in certain positions, but the process by which the names on the list were selected was done by seniority. She said the board had to choose whether it agreed to cut several music positions.
“It’s a matter of do you want certain positions cut - that’s what it comes down to,” she said.
Bates said that statement reiterated his point that the curriculum decisions and layoffs are two separate issues.
“We are being asked to make an approval of layoffs being recommended by the administration,” he said. “If this were a list of positions or classes, then this is an appropriate discussion to have. We have asked ‘Do these particular layoffs mean that particular classes are going to be cut?’ and we’ve been told ‘No, that is not necessarily the case.’”
Bates continued that the layoffs should be made and the district can hash out curricular questions later.
Devaney responded that she still needed more information before she could vote yes, and believed that curricular discussions needed to happen before the district starts shaving positions.
Berman added that although the cuts were just names and not positions, it will still affect the programs.
“We are cutting the programs that exist now and we will not be able to get those programs back,” she said.
Comments
hypsi
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 4:26 p.m.
Thanks MoonMaiden. It's a sad day when you have to get all of your facts to research from the comment boards and not from the news articles...sigh. None of this was disclosed at the board meeting (at least from what I'm reading on annarbor.com, Ypsi citizen, and the like) Do you know if there is a posting somewhere for this information? Moore did not make AYP in Illinois while he was principal there. It's still a shame that in this economic climate, YPS has decided to pay this two this amount and then in the same breath talk about letting teachers and programs go. Those teachers and programs are what benefit the students the most, not paying administrators the highest salaries possible.
Moonmaiden
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3:40 p.m.
One more thing (I wanted to see my new picture...). I would love to make more money, but I don't resent what Mr. Martin and Mr. Moore make IF THEY DO THE JOB! I want to see all our schools make AYP and the pride restored to Ypsi Schools. Is that too much to ask? I teach in Ypsi and I really like what Mr. Brown brought to YHS. I hope Mr. Moore can continue that. Go Braves,oops, PHOENIX!
Moonmaiden
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.
Moore, according to his resume, actually has almost six years of administrative experience. He was a Dean of students (adm post in Illinois)for 16 months, Assistant Principal for 2 years, and, as of June 30 this year, Principal for two years. Before that he taught for almost six years. Placement on step six is standard and the district can place him higher if they wish.
hypsi
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
Thanks CountryKate :] I also should add that it is not a 7 step pay increase but a 6 step increase. Either way, it's not what a normal principal with only 1 and 1/2 years of experience would be making.
CountyKate
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 8:15 a.m.
hypsi, you have a good point. I also agree with Jay that the fiscal irresponsibility of the Zuhlke administration still has reverberations that are being felt now. Which is why it makes even less sense to pay large sums for inexperienced administrators. Pay should be commensurate with experience and these two, Martin and Moore, don't have that much experience.
hypsi
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 7:33 a.m.
That should be so the students aren't being punished...my n key keeps sticking.
hypsi
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 7:28 a.m.
Jay..thank you for that. I am fully aware of how much an EXPERIENCED superintendent should be making. Martin though is not an EXPERIENCED superintendent and he is historically the highest paid super that Ypsi has ever paid for. Martin is now bringing in his buddy to be principal at Ypsi at a 7 step level of pay, when Moore has only had one and half years of experience at his past job. How many teachers are being sacrificed so these two can have their "pay"? How about cutting pay at an administration level so the students are being punished? It seems if the administration really cared about what is in the students best interest, they would be thinking about pay cuts themselves.
Jay
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 11:20 a.m.
hypsi, people always complain about how teachers and educators are underpaid compared to athletes, actors, musicians, etc. The average salary for a superintendent is just under $139k. So, believe it or not, his pay is on par to where is should be for the job he does. Aside from that, these cuts being made are a result of years of fiscal irresponsibility which started before Dr. Hawkins took his position at the head of the district. *Reading, and the will to know more, is key in all things.
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.
@eyeloveypsi.com i be out and get some fresh air and vote. y'all join me now.
CountyKate
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.
Dading, I don't agree that just parents should sit on the board. I think we have to have a variety of viewpoints, including community members, on the board. In the past we've had businesspeople, grandparents of children in the district and others who became board members before having a child. But all were deeply invested in providing a superior education for our children. That said, however, all board members should be willing and devoted to keeping themselves informed of what is happening within the district and of what is happening outside that will affect the district. Only then can they make informed, responsible decisions. So, what bothers me is when a board member follows the "if the superintendent says it, it must be so" line of thinking. The reason we have school boards is to provide the district with community-governed oversight with the best interests of the community and its children as its top priority. Most superintendents don't come from the community in which they are employed. They bring to the table other experiences and techniques that may, or may not, be in tune with what is best for that particular community. Without the school board, that person would have no reason to take the community's interests into account and that lack of responsible oversight could result - and has resulted - in petty tyrants and dictators taking a district down a path not in the best interests of anyone but, presumably, that superintendent. It is sad that a few of our current board seem to have lost sight of why they are there. But, since that appears to be the case, we must look around for others who are willing to serve.
eyeloveypsi
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 7:18 a.m.
Lot's of comments about it being time for certain BOE members to go. Sure hope y'all show up on election day (i.e. turn off your computers for a few hours, get some fresh air, and VOTE!) The state just passed a retirement incentive package, that should encourage more people to retire. I don't see how the district can offer an incentive...
dading dont delete me bro
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 5:58 a.m.
"only four have retired", can't they sweeten the deal to encourage more to retire? it's sad that a young and qualified teacher is the first to get a pink slip. some of these teachers should've retired when i was there...and that was 20 years ago! same w/some of the current board, mr.brumfield, you were there 20 years ago. your kids are no longer in the school system. i'm a firm believer that all board members should have children somewhere along their schooling in the school district. there are many qualified parents that can be on the board.
Dontgetdeked
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 8 p.m.
Congratulations to Mr. Bates and Mr. Brumfield. You are doing your job by not micromanaging the administration. Fanta, et al could take a lesson from your actions and understanding of Board responsibilities.
Dante Marcos
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.
Clearer now than ever that Bates, Brumfield, and Horne must go. I'm by no means alone in thinking so.
hypsi
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 5:09 p.m.
Maybe if the district wasn't paying Martin 140,000 a year for the next 3 years plus 300 a month for a car and 75 a month for a cell phone. The district wouldn't have to be letting some of these teachers and programs go. http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti-schools-seals-deal-with-new-superintendent/