Politics & Government
School Board Endorses Cut of Four Positions
Teachers describe how loss of position will harm library program.
The Piedmont school board Wednesday endorsed a piece of the administration’s budget plan by announcing support for cutting four classified positions.
It was a first reading of a resolution scheduled for a May 11 vote.
Board members acknowledged the cuts will hurt as they declared their support for the administration’s belt-tightening plan. They addressed teachers who said the loss of a library aide at Piedmont Middle School will hamstring the library program.
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Jennifer Gulassa, one of two teacher-librarians who share a full-time position at the middle school library (the other is Carolyn White), said, “It’s our job to teach students to be information-literate.” The teacher-librarians often work with classes on how to navigate and be discriminating about electronic material. The teacher-librarians have time to work with classes in depth as the aide spells them on routine duties, such as checking out materials for students.
“The assistant who frees us up as teacher-librarians to make that learning possible,” said Gulassa.
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The staff will be stretched thin. “A retirement or a cut doesn’t make work go away,” said White.
Board member Ray Gadbois had seen a presentation of “the wonderful work in the middle school library.
“Kids are there all the time doing research,” he said. “I know that these cuts are real and they’re going to have an impact, but we still need to make them.”
“I will support the administration’s recommendation,” said board member Martha Jones, who then addressed the middle school teachers in the audience. “Sorry. I know you guys do a great job.”
The positions reduced include an attendance secretary, counseling secretary and library aide at Piedmont High, and the library aide at Piedmont Middle. The two library aides are both retiring, Hubbard said, and the duties of the two secretaries will be covered in a reconfiguration of job descriptions.
These staff reductions are part of cuts producing an ongoing savings of $300,000 to $500,000 as the district braces for state aid cuts this year and next.
“It’s the most volatile year in terms of state projections that we’ve ever faced,” said Superintendent Connie Hubbard.
“I think we’re doing a damn good job of trying to provide a little stability despite what the state is doing,” said board President Roy Tolles.
