Parents, teachers decry District 1 cuts

Many Yuma Elementary School District 1 teachers and parents appealed to the governing board to find an alternative to a proposed budget that many in the community said burdens teachers unfairly.

Noel Morago, vice president of the Yuma Elementary Education Association and an O.C. Johnson teacher for 12 years, said she faces a 7.5 percent pay cut this year as do many other teachers, and some will have an 8.6 percent cut.

Morago addressed the governing board Tuesday at District 1's regular board meeting during the public comment period and expressed dismay at a proposed budget that will cut $3.1 million next year. That will also mean the layoff of up to 50 teachers, she noted.

Almost half of the teachers lost are because of declining enrollment and nothing can be done about it. But, Morago said, teachers shoulder the burden unfairly since out of the expected cut, only $200,000 comes from administration, she said.

"I love my school. We've had four different principals since I started and they've all worked hard to manage, maintain and motivate staff, but teachers work hard as well. I would like there to be a budget that is fair and balanced."

Kaathie Jirak, a teacher at Roosevelt School, said the proposed budget was constructed without teacher input as to what they thought should be priorities. She added that the majority of cuts come at the expense of decreased quality of education because of proposals to increase class size.

Even though District 1 lost 800 students over the past five years, it raised the class size last year to a ratio of 25:1 for kindergarten through second grades, Jirak said. Yet many of those classes actually had closer to 30 students, she noted. Next year District 1 plans to to increase class size to 30:1 and Jirak wondered if that means some classes actually end up with 35 students.

"Fewer teachers means less supervision, mentoring and less individualized instructional time for those most in need. We beg you to look at other employee groups and other departments to cut dollars, without cutting teacher pay or increasing class size by significantly reducing the number of teaching positions."

Jackie Kravitz, a parent of two students at Alice Byrne School, said she is an advocate for lower class size and she prays that Arizona's Proposition 100, the temporary 1 cent sales tax, will pass at the May 18 special election, which the governor's office estimates could raise $1 billion a year.

Joe Michaud, another District 1 parent, recommended that administrative costs be reduced by 5 percent. He also suggested reducing the number of vice principals, special needs and human resource directors, and implement half-day kindergarten.

However, Kerry Jones, District 1 chief financial officer, said the district is on track to spend $6.6 million less than last year and it is well under budget, having used just 62 percent of its maintenance and operating budget so far this year.

Tami Harmon, a District 1 parent and business owner, implored the board to do everything possible not to cut teacher pay but find other solutions. As a business administrator, she said, she knows it is possible to find other solutions but the district must think creatively or it will drive its business into the ground, she said.

Greg Wilkinson, board president, said District 1 overall was as fair as it could be. Even though the teacher ratio is increasing to 30:1, he said, it is less than what the high schools have and the same as the other elementary districts in the county.

Wilkinson also said additional cuts in administration are already in the works but they are still making calculations in order to make those cuts equal to what teachers have. He said the latest figures will be disclosed at the next board meeting or a special meeting if one should be called.