CLARKSVILLE — The future is uncertain for Cara Walters.
She, among 19 other teachers at Clarksville Community School Corp., will be without a job this fall, reducing the teaching staff by about 20 percent.
“I’m still in shock and devastated, because I don’t know what’s going to happen in the fall and I have two kids at home,” Walters said with tears in her eyes and her voice cracking. “It’s very scary.”
After closing one if its two elementary schools during its May special meeting, the school board approved two motions Tuesday night to lay off 20 teachers in an effort to make ends meet. A total of 25 had been notified that they may not have a job this fall, but that was able to be reduced to the 20.
Financial problems
Superintendent Kim Knott said previously that the district was struggling with cutting $491,000 in 2010 expenses before the state announced more cuts earlier this year, which meant the district needed to cut $460,000 on top of that. All those cuts are in the general fund, which pays mostly for salaries and student programs.
She had proposed a referendum that would have raised taxes 24 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to those owning property in the district. That failed, with 55 percent of the vote going against the referendum May 4.
Knott said all of that has brought the school district to this point.
She said previously that a new staffing model at the middle and high schools would yield $1 million in savings, but said that would mean fewer teachers. She said this move will increase class sizes, but Knott said she was unsure of by how much.
Changes
However, teachers in the audience said the reduction will mean big changes for teachers and students.
“It makes my job a lot harder,” said Linda King, who teaches second grade at Greenacres Elementary School. “I cannot give the kind of attention I want to the kids, because the demands are harder. One teacher can only do so much.”
King said this year there are five second-grade classes. Next year, she said there will be four for the incoming second-graders and four for those moving to the third grade.
“It’s going to be very hard next year,” she said. “They’re asking us to do something that’s impossible.”
“It’s devastating. It’s not putting the students first anymore. It’s about the budget and there has to be a way to equal that out,” said Janie Grove, who teaches kindergarten at Greenacres. “We need to think about the kids and kids need an environment where the teacher has time for each of them on an individual basis.”
Knott said this change will mean sharing some staff between Clarksville middle and high schools. She said staffers who are shared will travel back and forth between the two buildings. The sharing of staff also will mean two new courses — world language and technology — both of which will be available to eighth graders for the first time. Students in those classes would also be able to earn high school credit.
Board members said though tough, the decision to reduce the teaching staff was necessary.
“I was a student here for 12 years. Taught here 34 years and have been on the board for 10 years. This is the saddest thing I have ever been involved with. I’m sorry for our students. I’m sorry for our teachers, but what’s necessary is necessary,” said Jim Bemiss, board vice president.
Even though times are tough, President Bill Wilson said the budget cuts don’t equate to a merger, despite rumors.
“We are not in discussions with Greater Clark or any other school corporation on a merger,” he said. “This corporation is viable for a number of years.”
Moving on
Meanwhile, those who are laid off are left fighting to find jobs at a time when other districts also are downsizing.
“I’m going to apply and hope I get something,” said Julie Seigle, who teaches preschool and special education at the elementary level.
“But there doesn’t seem to be that much out there now,” Walters added.
“Going down to one income is going to be really hard,” said Shelly Watson, who has an infant at home and just found out she was laid off from teaching at Greenacres. “It’s hard to stay positive for the kids [at school].”
All three have six or more years experience and a master’s degree. They said that puts them higher on the pay scale, making it harder to compete with new college graduates, who don’t have experience and only have a bachelor’s degree.
Tuesday was the deadline to lay off teachers for this upcoming school year. Knott said she’s unsure if other layoffs will be needed throughout the year in other positions or if more teachers will need to be cut next year. Tuesday’s cuts include 10 elementary-level teachers and 10 secondary teachers, Knott said.
Wilson said if the district grows in enrollment in the fall, some teachers may be able to be called back to work.
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