Document text
St. Mary's cuts teachers Mail Tribune / Jim Craven St. Mary's students Natalie Shallcross,left, and Tara Batzer display the T-shirts they and other students wore to school Thursday in support of teacher Eric Epstein, one of seven the school will lay off at the end of the school year. St. Mary's officials say falling enrollment and the unexpected loss of a large contribution brought about the decision to cut staff. By DAMIAN MANN Declining enrollment and the unexpected loss of a large contribution have caused St. Mary's School to lay off almost 20 percent of its teachers next year. The private Catholic school will let go of seven teachers, dropping the total from the current 39 to 32 next year. Head of school David Buran attributed the layoffs partially to falling enrollment. The school has about 300 students in sixth through 12th grades, down from a high of 340 last year. Buran also said Alpha Telecom Inc. of Grants Pass had agreed to contribute $250,000 toward construction of the school's $2.5 million library and media center building. But after paying a $100,000 installment, Buran said, the company declared bankruptcy last year. While this money isn't part of the school's operating costs, "It makes it necessary for us to get all of our ducks in a row," Buran said. To ensure the financial health of the school, Buran said, its $3 million annual operating budget will be reduced by $200,000 to $300,000. Buran said the student-teacher ratio should be about 10 to one but has been running 7.7 to one. Classes should average about 15 students but have been averaging 12. "That's a little tight for $6,400 a year (in tuition)," he said. Buran refuted rumors that the school has filed for bankruptcy. "In no way, shape or form are we going to," he said. "It wasn't even a thought." On Thursday, students wore T-shirts printed with pictures of one of their favorite teachers - Eric Epstein - who will be one of those losing his job. "It's just disappointing that the one teacher that students identified with so well is leaving," said sophomore Tara Batzer. "He treated us like equals." But students appear to understand the school's financial predicament. "They're really low on money," she said. Responding to the outpouring of student support, Epstein, who has worked two years at the school, said, "They're very sweet to me, but it's also that they're feeling the loss of a lot of their teachers as well." Epstein, 29, and his wife, Elise, plan to go to the Czech Republic this fall and teach English, something his wife has done before. They have two children. "We're going overseas, but we'll keep an eye on St. Mary's for future jobs," said Epstein. Both parents and students have expressed concern about the school's situation, said Buran. "Any kind of change makes people nervous," he said. Besides talking to parents, Buran said, "I'm meeting individually with the classes and I've talked to seniors one-on-one." With fewer teachers next year, the class offering will remain the same as the workload is spread among remaining teachers. "The only thing not being offered next year is Japanese," he said. The decision about which teachers to keep and which to let go was based on how many courses they were qualified to teach as well as their seniority, said Buran. Enrollment has declined this year, but next fall the school expects an influx of students. "I think we're going to grow," Buran said. "A couple of classes will have a waiting list." Buran said the school would limit enrollment to 320 students next year, allowing a student- teacher ratio of 10 to one. The school, which has a lot of parental involvement, will also continue to conduct fund-raisers. "Tuition doesn't cover the cost of what it takes to educate these kids," he said. 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.