Letter to the Editor: School Furloughs Announcements Lacked Class

Dear Woodland Hills District Administration,

We are all outraged by Governor Tom Corbett's cuts at the state level, and understand the constraints this puts on you in terms of revenue and the need to make cuts.

You had some uncomfortable decisions to make and are not finished making them. The furlough of 51 school teachers, across the district, is unwelcome but unsurprising news.

I have been one of those parents pestering the state officials on your behalf. Despite a lot of negativity and people giving up on the district, I've kept my children in, because I've seen positive changes made by Superintendent Walter Calinger. My husband and I graduated in the first graduating class of Woodland Hills High School, so it's personal to us.

Given that I am upset about all of this, and there are other issues which I'm sure you're hearing about and will continue to hear about, I am mainly writing to express my disapproval at the manner in which newly-furloughed Junior High and High School teachers received their notices this week.

On the last day of school (June 7), I was at the junior high, having an IEP meeting on behalf of my son. It was toward the end of the day and there was an unusual amount of traffic in the office outside the conference room. Even from the inside of the conference room, it was evident that something was going on. When I questioned the teachers about it, they shifted uncomfortably in their seats and explained that some teachers were receiving furlough notices. I was aghast.

"While the students are still here?!?" I asked. They nodded sadly.

Really, Woodland Hills? You could not have waited a few hours until the students were gone for the day, or waited until the in-service day the very next day? You had to pull these dedicated professionals right out of their classrooms, to fire them, so they could go back to class directly afterward? You couldn't set up meetings by mail or by phone? Pardon my French. Wait, you're not going to be teaching French anymore, so I'll just say it: This sucks.

What happened this week was a tough and painful situation that you could have, and should have, handled with more sensitivity and humanity. SHAME ON YOU.

Our meeting concluded as the school day ended, so my son came with me to the car as the students piled enthusiastically into their buses, not having the same information we did about what had just transpired. The teachers all stood in a line, outside the building, waving and smiling as the students drove away. There was no way to tell, by looking at the line, which teachers were waving their students off for the last time. It was heartbreaking, and my son and I teared up as we silently watched until the last teacher went back inside.

They showed a lot more class and professionalism than you did. I hope that if you can't call them back, they all find good jobs where they receive better than they got this week.

Sincerely,

Heidi McDonald

Concerned Alumna

Concerned Parent

Concerned Taxpayer