PUSD Furloughs Hits Home for Working Families

Pleasanton Unified School District's furlough days on May 28 and June 1, isn't just shutting down schools. 

For some families, the closures mean, shuffling work schedules, turning to others for alternate chid care and parents taking time off their jobs. Parents who make use of child care programs at the schools, such as Kids Club, are especially impacted by the furloughs. 

Christine Tibbetts, Kids Club program director, said many of the 300 families who make use of Kids Club's before and after school day care service, are made up of full-time working adults.

Ken Mizukura and his wife, Susan Tsutakawa, parents of two students, are taking turns staying home on furlough days. On regular school days, the family makes use of Kids Club service at Donlon Elementary School. 

Tsutakawa said she will give up her Memorial Day break to make up missing work Friday to watch her kids. 

"I think [furloughs] are really bad, not just because of the inconvenience to my work but also because of the kids," she said. "They don't learn as much."

Still, she and her husband said the furloughs are better than the alternative--losing teachers.

"We accept it," said Mizukura. "If this can help, we can support it."

The furloughs being linked to the Memorial Day weekend might ease the impact, Tibbetts said, with some families going on vacation.

"Some families might take advantage of that, if they can; not every family is in that situation," she said.

Mizukura said his family contemplated going on a trip because of the holiday, but with summer already approaching, they decided against it.

"We can't afford it," he said.

Others, Tibbetts said, will  use relatives and older children in the same district for alternate child care.

Michael Pena, whose grandson also is in Kids Club at Donlon Elementary School, said he will be taking time off of work to help his daughter.

"It affects the family because my daughter is a single mom and she can't take time off," he said. "The grandparents have to step in and do it."

At Walnut Grove Elementary School, where the non-district owned daycare program Extended Day Child Care is offered, parents say they're glad the service will be opened on furlough days.

"If they weren't opened, I would be stressed," said Kristen Quintana, a parent.

The furloughs are part of a deal struck between the district, management, teachers and classified employees unions to help fill an $8 million budget shortfall for the coming school year. The deal saves the district around $5 million. 

It's the first year, Pleasanton families have had to deal with furloughs. There were three days this year, and three more are scheduled during instructional days next year (teachers and classified employees have additional unpaid days during non-instructional days).

Myla Grasso, spokesperson for the school district, said the three furlough days for this school year were scheduled with families in mind.

"We try to consider what would have the least impact on families; it's better than just picking a random date," said Grasso.

Eric Peters, an Alisal Elementary School parent, said the scheduling has helped.

"They gave us enough notice ... it works out for us," said Peters.

The first furlough day this year was April 1, right before Spring Break and only affected teachers and management staff. This time around, classified staff, including those who work at the school site day care services, will be joining the furloughs.

Day care services provided at school sites such as Kids Club and Y-Kids, will be closed. 

"Kids Club is part of the district, administered by the school district, employees are employees of school district," said Tibbets.

Similarly, the Y-Kids service provided by the YMCA is under a school contract that says it must provide the same hour of services as the school's program.

One possible option for parents is to find alternate child care on a drop-in basis, said Carol Thomas, executive director of the non-profit organization Child Care Links, which gives referrals to licensed child care providers.Though this option might cost parents more.

Thomas said she wasn't aware of an increased need for drop-in childcare service because of furloughs. 

"Normally children either use onsite childcare at schools or they have someone near in neighborhood," she said. "Never experienced demand for drop-in care ...  but it sounds like it has a potential [for the need] to get bigger."

Thomas said for parents who are looking to make sure that their children are still engaging in productive activities even if they're not in school, there are providers available who specialize in enrichment or tutoring.