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Schools

District 50 Cuts Finalized

Tough decisions debated at Special Board meeting.

Some teaching positions were cut and others saved following much debate and deliberation during a special Woodland School Board meeting. The following positions were eliminated: two kindergarten teachers, four eighth-grade teachers, one gifted program teacher and two technology advisor spots.

Saved from elimination were two physical education teacher positions, one primary school librarian position and two early childhood teacher positions.

The approved reductions were deemed by the majority of the board to have little or no impact on the students. Proposed due to declining enrollment, the reduction of two kindergarten teachers will increase class size by one student and still be within the target class size range, school officials said.

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Board opinions differed on the impact of the eighth-grade teams having to be reorganized due to teacher cuts. 

“We had originally said we would defer this until FY13 so as not to reshuffle the same group of kids twice. It will be another adjustment no matter how you look at it,” said board President Larry Gregorash. 

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“I am a parent of a seventh-grader who will be affected by this change. But it doesn’t change class size or the program. Yes, there will be adjustment for the kids, but that may be a good thing,” said board member Carla Little.

There was no debate over the gifted program position.

“This reduction has been implemented in the sixth-grade and has been a plus to children not being pulled off their team for the gifted program,” said Superintendant Joy Swoboda.

Despite a plea from board member Bruce Bohren, the technology advisor position reductions were approved 4-3. “We need to invest in technology and the training that goes with it. I’m against reducing these areas any further than we already have,” said Bohren.

Three PE teachers spoke prior to the vote regarding their concerns about overcrowding of classes, the physical exhaustion of PE staff and reduction in the quality of the program due to teaching too many students throughout the course of the day. 

“We know our kids are not getting the activity that they need. About one-third of American children are obese. It really is that serious that it is a public health issue, so I would urge the board to vote ‘no’ on reducing PE staff,” said Little. 

When it came to cutting the primary school librarian position, board member Terry Hall was the most vocal.  “I’ve said it before that for very young students to not have a librarian seems horrible to me and the worst thing we can do,” said Hall.

“I am a librarian in another school district so I have strong feelings on this issue.  Research shows cutting library staff is not good educational practice. When you cut the educator you cut the main literacy person out of the child’s life,” said parent Deborah Will.

It appeared that the early childhood positions might be reduced after Superintendent Swoboda stated that the district starts the school year less than 50 percent full in these classes. The idea was put on the table to reduce staff now and add staff if needed mid-year. 

“I’ve gotten feedback from community on this and they said it’s like staffing for Christmas help all year round,” said board member Catherine Campbell.  

“I ask people not to put the needs of our neediest children on the same plane as Christmas shopping,” said board member Mark Vondracek. Apparently, Vondracek’s feedback had an impact and the motion was denied 4-3.

A few teachers cried tears of relief after the vote. 

“We’re very happy, but it’s still hard to celebrate. This is good for the children, but there are still people we work with in the Early Childhood program at risk,” said Early childhood and WELE teacher Brittany Gossell.

WELE, the Woodland Early Learning Experience, helps kids who need some additional assistance preparing for kindergarten. The WELE program was approved to continue at the Feb. 24 meeting, pending receipt of grant funding.

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