Benicia Teachers Unite in the Face of Layoffs

It was standing room only  at the Board of Trustees meetin Thursday night where well over 100 Benicia teachers came to protest the planned layoffs of 27 teachers.  Dressed in black tee shirts printed with Got Reserve?, they filled the board meeting room and spilled over into the hallway, front steps and the lawn outside. 

 The Got Reserve? message referred to the district's $1.4 million rainy day reserve. Some teachers wore raincoats and carried umbrellas to suggest that the rainy day is here.

The budget deficit is complicated. The state requires the district to hold a reserve of 3 percent for economic uncertainties. The Benicia School Board committed to a reserve of 7 percent. This year's excess reserve above the state mandate $1.4 million.

Chief Business Official Tim Rahill reported that California schools could be facing more funding reductions. Benicia's targeted budget cuts are $1.9 million for the next school year, but the district could face an additional $1.8 million in cuts due to the California's ongoing  budget crisis. The total deficit could be as high as $4.3 million, quickly devouring the district's reserve.

On May 16, Governor Brown will announce the revised state budget. The State wil conduct a budget workshop on May 19 so the real picture will be revealed at the school board meeting later that night.

Dozens of teachers addressed the board during the public comment segment of the meeting.

First up was Arlene Empleo, who bravely sang a modified version of the song Have You Ever Seen the Rain. Her lyrics included, “Increased class sizes and furlough days, how will our children learn this way. I want to know, how you expect us to teach this way, morale is low and I wonder what our children will say. You've got reserves, not it's time to pay.” Empleo is a Special Education resource teacher at , recently honored as one of California's highest achieving schools earlier in the meeting.

Debra Campbell, outgoing president of the Benicia Teachers Association, read a prepared statement addressing districts budget challenges and unrestricted reserve. Campbell noted that the state is talking about cutting the school year by 20-30 days, which means school could start as late as October or run August to April. “We must protect the educational program for Benicia children, that's our charge as teachers,” said Campbell. “BUSD has already started it's budget priorities by proposing increased class sizes and laying off 27 teachers.”

During the break Campbell explained, “We brainstormed as an organizing team to come up with the tee shirts and rallies, giving the board an idea that the teachers are watching and concerned. We are not apathetic, we are far from apathetic,” she said with conviction. “Am I optimistic about what's going to happen with the state? I don't know. The revise on May 16 will be the teller.”

Brian Rooney, a (BMS) PE teacher talked about class size and safety. “If I'm going to teach rock climbing that first week, I'm not going to be able to if there are 50 people are in the class,” said Rooney. “I have to ask, what kind of experience am I going to be able to give to my students?”

Kathy McNair teaches fourth grade at Matthew Turner and was Vice Principal at Benicia Middle School for seven years. She echoed Rooney's concerns, saying sixth graders will be in PE classes of 165 students, where they'll have to deal with the anxiety of changing clothes. “I think of all the incidents in the locker room and all the students I've helped to get over incidents,” said McNair. “Parents want their children to be happy and safe.”

BMS English teacher Susan McDonald was pink-slipped and spoke passionately, “I do a good job. My students learn. My students get good test scores,” she said. “But you don't really know me. You don't know my name,” McDonald stressed that electives are important to students, like Collin, a music student. “If he doesn't have music, school is not going to be interesting to him.”

sophomore, Rachel Roberts, who takes  academic decathlon and advanced drama student, spoke on behalf of elective classes. “Aca-deca honestly has helped me with so many things. I don't like speaking in front of people and drama has helped me with that.”

Patricia Flynn, a parent, made an emotional plea asking the board to use the reserve, saying that the situation is unacceptable. “If you do this I am going to fight you every step of the way,” she warned.

Matthew Turner reading teacher Claudia Bru brought the audience to tears with her comments about her reading programs saying, “I believe strongly in putting students first.” Bru's salary is only partly paid by the district. Fund-raising and other other funding make up the difference.

After the meeting Rosie Switzer, School Board President, stated, “I think it's good that the teachers are unified. Even though 27 of them got pink slipped, in the past when we've pink slipped people, we've been able to bring them all back by doing other cuts.”

Switzer hopes that a combination of furlough days, larger class sizes and early retirement incentives will add up to enough to save teacher's jobs. “I am for using part of the reserve but not for using the whole amount... to use up to 1.6 mil this year.” Switzer pointed out that the district has to plan ahead, “It's going to be a two year problem.”

School Board Clerk Andre Stewart, who's wife is a teacher, was pleased to see teachers speaking out. “I personally I agree with them,” said Stewart. “I think the issue though, is the curve ball they were thrown. The Governor may make further cuts- there goes the surplus then. That's what I'm concerned about now."

"Nothing happens really until May 16," said Stewart. When asked about having to wait, he replied, “Considering the alternative, I'm okay with the stall. There is still hope. If we can bring all the teachers back.... oh man!”

Stewart also mentioned a rumor that California may be gaining $2.5 billion more than expected in property tax revenue. “I hope it's true,” he said. As in years past, teachers were laid off last year then rehired when funds became available. Switzer and Stewart are hopeful that the same thing will happen this year.

A Teacher Appreciation picnic is planned for Friday, May 13 at 3:30 in City Park, followed by a demonstration at on Military & First Street. Students and parents are welcome to show their support by attending.