Kathi Wright - Special to the Sun

The monthly Kernville Union School District Board of Trustees Meeting was held in the familiar setting of the Wallace Cafetorium on March 11, at 7:30 p.m. The audience was peppered with a hearty dose of teachers and district employees, there to learn more about state-budget-generated issues affecting the schools. These budget woes have affected the KUSD and caused 'pink slip' notices to be a grim reality.

Kern County Superintendent of Schools legal counsel, Pete Carton, began with the proverbial 'Don’t shoot the messenger' by saying, 'I have 15 teachers in my family. I am the only one who crossed over to the ’Äòdark side’ and became an attorney. I haven’t seen these kinds of financial decisions being made since Proposition B, 30 years ago. I am not advocating any option, I am only the mechanic (in this issue).'

The larger than usual crowd attending the March 11 KUSD Board of Trustees meeting watch intently as students in Stacey Sanders’ class give a presentation illustrating their community volunteer work projects.

'Teachers want the legal process followed. We are not trying to judge,' said Wallace Elementary School teacher and KUSTA President, Sherry Lanza. 'Any teacher laid off has the right to a hearing. CTA (California Teachers Association) will review the cases and hire an attorney if necessary.' She then went on to proffer statements she had received from fellow teachers such as, 'My focus is the children,' 'I feel last hired, first fired,' 'The legal procedure must be followed,' and 'Hopefully we will have a procedure to follow in the future.'

Carton replied, 'The District has multiple options. Individual teachers who request a hearing or waive a hearing still have rights. Everyone will know within 24 hours who is being pink-slipped.'

KUSD’ÄàSuperintendent Mary Barlow explained that the district would notify, by March 15, 'the individuals with the least seniority in the specific positions being reduced.' As in the case with many districts in the state of California, Barlow said, 'Some positions such as single subject credentials in math, science, and special education are difficult to find and staff members with a single subject credential in these areas are typically not noticed.'

Carton went on to describe the process of hearings, if it comes to that. 'The State assigns a hearing officer and those findings will be back by the May 7 and presented to the board. The board can then agree or not.' He added, 'The time between tonight (March 11) and May 15 is a frozen time. A week from today you may be calling me and saying, ’ÄòPete, never mind, we don’t need you.’ But the Board must act now and give (pink slip) notices by the 15th or wait another year.'

'What is the legal process,' asked trustee Ross Elliott. Carton answered, 'You’re following it. It is a tie breaker resolution. You can deviate from issues of seniority if someone who is saved (from lay off) can do a service no one else can. If you are special ed you could have started today and be saved.' Carton advised the Board to 'Deal with this issue now. Tie breaker resolution number four is good only this year. Layoffs do not take away your seniority; only a resignation does.'

Barlow said, 'We worked very hard at making our reductions as far away from the classrooms as possible. The reduction in teaching positions is due to declining student enrollment in the district. We were able to retain class size reduction in the K-3 classrooms. Classrooms in the 4th-8th grade will be around 28-30 students per class. The two teachers that were noticed will be placed on the 39-month rehire list and have the first opportunity to be hired when a position becomes available. Our district values every staff member. We recognize that the reason we are successful is due to the dedication and passion of our staff to educating children.'

Board member and retired teacher Cassie Wingender spoke for the entire board when she said, 'We are agonizing over these cuts. We don’t want to lose a single teacher. You teach our kids. We will seek to soften the cuts.' Speaking personally, she added, 'We spend five long years preparing to teach, we understand that teachers teach because it is their passion. Our first, second, and last concern always will remain with the children.' Board President Tom Moore stated, 'We have budget cuts and declining enrollment. We have a double whammy.'

Rio Vista Community Day School students Casey Behan, Brian Gerarden, Morgan Mellor, Skyler Marzola, and Matthew Clark presented a report on some of their recent activities. There was attendance at the Leaders in Life Conference, a conference by teens and for teens. They also have a fish hatchery program under way.

The next scheduled Board meeting will be held on April 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cafetorium.