PUSD Delays Laying Off More Teachers By Increasing Classroom Sizes

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night to increase student-teacher ratios in kindergarten through third grade classrooms from the current 18.93 to 1 to 25 to 1, putting the 34 teacher jobs in jeopardy if anticipated federal stimulus funds fall through.

The Board also approved a measure that would increase the size of ninth-grade English and math classes from 20 to 25, which would preserve another 5 teacher jobs.

The Board reported that PUSD lost $18.8 million in expected state funding for both the past and upcoming school years between June 2008 and February 2009, and now that figure has spiked to $19.7 million. The Board of Education hopes to use about President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus campaign funds to lower kindergarten through third grade classroom ratios to 22 to 1 in order to preserve teacher jobs and classroom environment. They also hope to do the same to save teacher jobs and education quality in ninth-grade English and math subjects.

The alternative funding has not been finalized and can only be used for specific initiatives such as alleviating school classroom overcrowding or special education. The PUSD hopes to get about $20 million, but board members stressed this would only serve to fix the financial problems for one year.

Though the possibility could exist that alternative funding falls through, PUSD Chief Financial Officer Dr. John Papparlardo reassured the crowd and board members that stimulus funds are available to help the school system.

Dozens of parents and PUSD teachers fearing layoffs filled the meeting room Tuesday night, with many seated on the floor or standing out in the hallway. Some wore T-shirts that stated “Cuts Hurt Kids SAVE Our Teachers.” In March, 34 certificated employees were laid off. As many as 41 teachers could have gotten layoff notices after Tuesday’s School Board meeting, but the board has chosen to hold off in hopes that the full outside funding will come through.

Board member Ed Horowitz also implored the passionate crowd, many of whom clapped and cheered as comments about the problems of state government in Sacramento were made, the importance of banding together as a local community to find even more alternative solutions during this next school year.

“Everyone knows that the economy has taken a massive hit,” Horowitz said. “I think we should thank President Obama for the stimulus funds as well.”

But it isn’t known is the stimulus funds will be a regular grant to financially troubled school systems. Thus, residents of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre who care about the PUSD should join together and figure out ways to increase revenue through local government.

One idea offered was for citizens and leaders to band together to pass a parcel tax, California communities like Lafayette have successfully enacted through activism and a subsequent community vote. South Pasadena is waiting for the results of all of their ballots to see if they will be able to raise $1.7 million a year for their schools.

A parcel tax is an additional levy to property owners on top of their standard personal property tax. However, a parcel tax program’s proceeds go to one specific institution of need within local government, such as schools, fire, or police.