Students expect to suffer because of budget crisis

[Terence Chea; Jun. 09, 2010] Students who graduated from high school this spring may have collected their diplomas just in time, leaving institutions that are being badly weakened by the nation’s economic downturn. Across the country, mass layoffs of teachers, counselors and other staff members are leading to larger classes and reductions in everything that is not a core subject, including music, art, clubs, sports and other after-school activities. Educators and others worry the cuts could lead to higher dropout rates and lower college attendance as students receive less guidance and become less engaged in school. They fear a generation of young people could be left behind.

At Silver Creek High School in San Jose, Ca., state budget cuts will make things even worse next year. The school probably will have five fewer classroom days and lose three of its four guidance counselors and three of its four custodians, as well as its health aide, mental health coordinator and student activities director. The future of student government, clubs, pep rallies, homecoming and prom is in doubt.

The American Association of School Administrators estimates that 275,000 education jobs will be cut in the coming school year, based on an April survey. Other AASA surveys found that 52 percent of administrators plan to cut extracurricular activities, and 51 percent are reducing elective courses not required for graduation. Tupper Lake Central Schools in New York, will lose 25 percent of its instructional staff in the upcoming school year, which will probably result in bigger classes and the elimination of electives such as photography, modern art and ceramics. Silver Creek High senior Anthony Chavez said he worries that students won’t get the same opportunities with just one counselor for more than 2,400 students. “Through my four years here, my counselors helped me with everything. I’m the first generation in my family to go to college,” he said. “I didn’t even know what SATs were.”

And it’s not just our neighbors who are losing out, we are losing teachers and programming right here too.

Teacher layoffs putting Modesto’s Fremont Open Plan in jeopardy

[ J.N. Sbranti; Jun. 02, 2010] After thriving for 34 years as an alternative elementary school, teacher layoffs are putting Modesto’s Fremont Open Plan in jeopardy. The alternative school has nine teachers, but two of them are retiring and three others have been told they’re being laid off because of budget cuts. Modesto City Schools is slicing $25 million from its 2010-11 budget because of funding shortfalls. To save money, the district is boosting class sizes and reducing teachers. That includes laying off about 55 elementary school educators, based on seniority. “We feel the continuity of our program is in jeopardy,” Fremont Open Plan parent Patti Reeder told trustees.

They weren’t the only community members to share their concerns. With teacher layoffs and school closures, scant humanities or after school programs, some look to other methods of learning.

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