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E.P. schools to lay off 71 staff By DAMIAN MANN EAGLE POINT � Forced to cut $1 million from next year�s budget, the school district will undertake a staggering reduction in its work force � laying off 71 employees, or about 13 percent of employees. "It�s just an awful situation for a school district to find itself in," said Superintendent Bill Jones. "But it�s a responsible decision that will avoid future problems." The Eagle Point School District, which has 530 employees, will eliminate many part-time positions, including 13 teachers and 49 educational assistants who help out in the classrooms. Planned layoffs at Eagle Point School District 49 part-time instructional aides 10 full-time union secretaries, custodians and support staff 4 full-time union licensed teachers 9 temporary full-time licensed teachers. Total: 71* * a music teacher will be shared between the high school and junior high school "The school year ended today," said Jody Streetman, president of the Eagle Point Education Association. "I saw the tears and sadness this has brought to people." Employees, devastated by the news, didn�t expect the layoffs to be so severe, Streetman said. Three new staff members who bought homes are now in limbo. "They are sitting on the fence waiting to see what happens. They have put their lives on hold," she said. Students at the schools are also aware of what�s going on, she said. "They are worried." But the worst isn�t over yet as employees begin an agonizing process in which one bumps another depending on seniority. "When the riffing (reduction in force) and bumping process begins, it will affect so many employees," Streetman said. With the loss of secretaries, teachers, custodians, a library aide and other staff, the schools will undergo sweeping changes in the coming year; but Jones believes the core curriculum that helps students perform well on state testing will remain intact. "There has been a lot of hard work done by the principals to maintain the integrity of the core programs," Jones said. Even so, he said, "It won�t be done the same as it was before, especially with the loss of educational assistants." The 4,000-student district will see reductions in music, art, home economics, nursing and other programs. Class sizes will increase, and with fewer educational assistants, the district will not be able to give as much individualized attention to students. "This is the most significant cut that District 9 has been a part of in my 23 years here," said Jones. The district was forced to make the cutbacks because it had been dipping into its reserves year after year to cover the increasing cost of education. But with reserves running out and expenses increasing, the district was left with little choice but to reduce staff � mostly part-time employees or workers who were hired on a year-to-year basis. About 80 percent of the district�s $26 million budget is devoted to salaries. "A majority of these employees would have been reemployed," said Jones. "These are good people that we really valued." This district and others throughout Jackson County had hoped the state would release more revenues for education than originally proposed to avoid these kinds of budget reductions. Reactions from his shocked staff have been varied, but Jones said, "I would tell you that the reports back from principals indicate that many of our employees understand why we�re doing this and the need to do this." Eagle Point High School Principal Mari Brabbin said her school, because it is the biggest, will suffer the most cutbacks. "This is the most difficult thing I have ever faced as an administrator," she said. It is especially difficult when many of the people being laid off are people she sees around town. "I am so touched by them � their understanding, their pulling together." But it has also been emotional, she said. "You weep when you can weep and you hug when you can hug." The cuts in staff will force Brabbin to increase class sizes and to reduce programs. Brabbin will lose the equivalent of 6.2 full-time teachers for her 1,150-student school. "I believe students at the high school will not receive the same personalized level of contact with staff," she said. The high school also will lose three full-time secretarial positions and a home economics teacher. The band and choir teachers will now divide their time between the high school and Eagle Point Junior High. Brabbin said that in some ways, it will be a more effective program because students will have the continuity of the same teachers at both schools. The junior high school will lose an industrial arts teacher. Jones said the cutbacks will prepare the district for the increased operational costs of two new middle schools and other improvements that will be made through $34 million in bonds. This money, approved by voters last year, can only be used for school improvements and not to help the district in its current financial crisis. Finance Director Greg Lecuyer said the district had $4 million in cash reserves two years ago. This dropped to $3 million this year as the district decided to keep programs � including the educational assistants � operational. If the district continued eating into its reserves, Lecuyer predicted the school system would eventually run out of money. Some staff members � in shock from the severity of the layoffs � declined to comment. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.