http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/5/6/seminole_schools_cut_343_jobs.html

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, Dr. Gay Parker, SEA President, addressed the School Board and requested that they reconsider their position on not allowing teachers to complete their DROP extension.

For a copy of Gay's remarks, click here.

SEA would also like to thank the over 100 teachers who attended the School Board meeting to show their support and the over fifteen teachers who spoke. Together, we do make a difference.

SEA Values All Experienced Teachers

April 17, 2008

SEA President, Gay Parker, will be addressing the School Board on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 to advocate for teachers who have dedicated their careers to Seminole County Public Schools and the students they serve.  Below is the letter sent to all teachers currently in or requesting a DROP extension.  Please click here to view the notice SEA sent to School Board Chairperson, Diane Bauer, notifying her of our intention to address the School Board.

Please make it a priority to attend this meeting and support your colleagues who wish to continue their careers in Seminole County and given the time to be properly prepared for retirement. 

Remember, together, we can make a difference!

Attention Teachers Currently In DROP

As you know, SEA has been in ongoing - and at times, frustrating discussions with Dr. Vogel, Mr. Boothe and Mr. Reichert regarding a SCPS teachers opportunity to extend their DROP beyond year 5 as allowed by Florida State Statute. 

SEA knows that many of you made important financial life decisions to enter DROP when you did, anticipating that you would have this opportunity.  In light of the financial crisis, the school district’s position, in part due to significant cut backs from the State Legislature, is not allowing many teachers to extend their DROP whether it is for year 6, 7, or 8.  This is contradictory to what we were assured in earlier discussions and as shared with you in the special edition of SEA Views that we distributed prior to spring break.

SEA does not deny that we are in a financial crisis; however, it has become increasingly clear that teachers are the ones taking the hit for this crisis.  As we see programs continuing to be created and implemented for the 2008-09 school year and administrative positions not being cut, with some administrative positions even being created and/or upgraded, SEA can not stand by and do nothing!  This, coupled with every administrator that has retired after DROP being allowed to come back if they wish – no questions asked, is devaluing and unfair to teachers.

As a result of this action by management, SEA will be addressing the School Board on Tuesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m.  However, we need you if we are going to impact the School Board. While it may not be currently impacting you because you are still within the 5 years, our concern is it could in future years.  If you wish to speak to this issue after SEA makes its presentation, please feel free to do so. We believe that personal stories will have a significant impact.  If you do not wish to speak, but can at least be at the meeting, this too will have an impact. 

Again, as in the past, when we stand STRONG, we do make a difference.  Please show your support and attend the School Board meeting on Tuesday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the ESC.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Paul Sanchez or myself at 407-388-1131 or at sea@scps.k12.fl.us.

Gay Parker, SEA President

This special edition of SEAViews is being disseminated so that all members know what their SEA Contract and Florida State Statute rights are. A number of teachers will be impacted by the deep budget cuts the School District is expecting from Tallahassee regarding the 2008-09 budget. I have spent a significant amount time over the last few days in budget meetings and workshops at the district and state level, and what is clear is that we will be expected to operate next year with anywhere from thirty (30) to twenty-three (23) million dollars less in the general operating budget - this is significant. This comes at the same time we are being hit with a 12% increase in our medical insurance and rising fuel costs while still experiencing a declining enrollment. For a copy of the first reading of the 2008-09 budget, please click here: 2008-09 Budget. When viewing the district's initial budget, I invite you to pay special attention to pages 10 - 13, proposed budget cost savings. None of the items are final, however, they are being seriously considered by the School Board. Remember, salary and fringe benefits have to be negotiated with SEA.

Last week all principals were given their teaching allocations for next year. These allocations represent a reduction from last year. To be specific, every school will be cut 5% in teaching positions. This represents 36 elementary school positions, 36 middle school positions, and 47 high school positions for a total of 119 teaching positions being reduced district wide. Additionally, 5% of support "points" at each school will also be reduced. These points could result in other teacher-based positions being cut; however, administrators and SECA positions are also funded by support points and could be cut instead. None of this represents schools where declining enrollment is expected. These schools will experience further cuts!

DROP extension (this is year 6, 7 and 8) is being allowed in all areas except Vocational Education, PE and In-School Suspension. Vocational Education, PE and In-school suspension are currently on hold.

It is apparent to me that our Legislature has redefined the phrase, “hold education harmless.” They are in the process of making historical cuts to education. At the same time, I have seen no effort on the part of our state government to make any cuts in their collective and individual costs of conducting business, i.e. travel expenses, cell phones, paper, planes, support staffing, etc. Also disturbing to me is that I see no cuts in our SCPS administrative staff. Continuing to create administrative positions and awarding promotions is wrong. There is no apparent effort to review and assess the value of numerous, excessively expensive, and redundant school-level programs over which many of you have expressed concern. The focus “on quality” versus “quantity” needs to be paramount at a time when public education is facing severe budget deficits. SEA recognizes the budget process has just begun and it is our hope that the School Board looks closely at our concerns and evaluates district priorities preceding bargaining.