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School District Could See Layoffs Next YearThe superintendent is hopeful teacher job losses can be avoidedRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - The Anchorage School District said teachers feel demoralized when they don't know if they'll be in the same job next school year, and that's exactly what some Anchorage teachers are facing. The Anchorage Assembly approved the school budget last month, but Superintendent Carol Comeau said the final decision on funding for all areas of the school district will not be made until the State Legislature deals with SB171, which provides an increase to the Base Student Allocation. Until then, teachers are worried they’ll lose their jobs. "We actually for the first time in a long time have the potential for layoffs of teaching positions,” said Jim Lepley, President of the Anchorage Education Association. The union said this is always an anxious time of the year for teachers as the budget is balanced and funding decisions are made. Service High School is one school that may see changes. “I believe the plan is for ten people at Service High School to be displaced, meaning technically that they're not going to lose their job, they are going to lose their position at Service High School and be absorbed somewhere else,” said Lepley. The superintendent is hopeful teacher job losses can be avoided. "At this point we don't think we will be issuing actual pink slips to teachers in the district,” said Comeau. According to Comeau, she's expecting 180 to 200 retirements or resignations that open up positions. Next week teachers can inform their schools if they wish to voluntary transfer and on Thursday and Friday there will be staffing meetings. The union said school staff in more specialized areas might to not be able to be absorbed. "Counselors being one group that I can think of that may have a counseling degree and a counseling license, but they may not have a teaching license,” said Lepley. The School Board will decide what is restored if the state approves more money, but a priority, along with teacher positions, will be restoring some high school electives which will likely be lost next school year. |
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RonAK said on Sunday, Apr 15 at 10:29 AM
Hopefully the new superintendent will hit the ground running and reform the district to stop the roller coaster business of hiring and layoffs. Look at all options, to include maybe realigning the boundries for existing schools to manage student populations.
87657745Daryl B. said on Thursday, Apr 26 at 4:25 PM
I under stand the tactic of placing teachers, and after school activities on the chopping block. It’s a way of getting public attention. By holding these high profile positions over our heads, we feel we are doing the students a disservice. So the taxpayers cave and approve another bond for education. Which does need to be paid back by the way. Has the school board ever looked into trimming admin positions that don’t directly affect our Students. We all know the school budget is $890,000,000.00 annually. Where is all that money going? Certainly not to the lunch program… the food is horrible!
88974145Dino said on Saturday, Mar 2 at 2:09 AM
PAY FOR EDUCATION!!!! AND CONSULING. Pay Now or your children will spend the rest of their lives suffering because you sat on your wallets and cheaply did nothing.
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