Dozens of students and teachers gathered along Freedom Boulevard in front of Aptos High School Friday morning to send a message to Pajaro Valley Unified School District administrators and to the public: potential layoffs and cuts could mean an end to the school’s 7-period schedule, and a loss of many elective classes including art.
The early-morning demonstration garnered honks of support from hundreds of passing motorists.
The concerns stem from a Feb. 25 Board of Trustees meeting, during which the trustees agreed to eliminate 46 teacher positions to balance the budget in the face of years of future declining enrollment.
The potential changes at AHS could also mean a loss of the freshman health class, which Associated Student Body Site Council Representative Natalia Vowles said is a “liability” for students.
“Real and informed and thorough sex ed saves students’ lives, and cutting that is not something that should ever be considered,” she said.
Joel Domhoff, who teaches video production, said that the district’s plan to lay off nine teachers at the school will mean the loss of 45 classes, a move that would send shock waves throughout the school.
This includes making it difficult to staff the current 7-period day, he said.
“(That was) implemented to give students more AP classes to get them college ready, more art and CTE (career-technical education) classes to give them more electives and credit recovery classes that allows them to graduate if they fail a class,” Domhoff said. “We have a lot of things that are threatened by cutting these teachers.”
The current schedule, he said, offers more electives to freshmen, provides learning opportunities for English learners and special education students.
Domhoff also pointed out that the district has a $54 million reserve, far above the state-mandated 3% reserve.
A district response
District officials on Friday did not specifically address the demonstrators’ concerns.
In an emailed statement, however, PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras said that the district will in the coming weeks work with students, staff and families to discuss issues regarding the 7-period schedule.
That schedule, Contreras said, is “unique within the district.”
The district is studying the issue and analyzing new data, including at Pajaro Valley and Watsonville high schools, she said.
“We will likely also convene students, staff and families at these two schools as well in the coming year,” Contreras said. “Our aim throughout this process will be to understand any systemic barriers that exist across our District, and then foster actionable insights and steps towards realizing equity-aligned goals and expectations of choice for PVUSD students.”
The district’s human resources department is looking into the impacts of staffing reduction decisions for individuals and sites, she said.
“PVUSD follows all obligations and collective bargaining agreements with our labor partners,” Contreras said.
Student and teacher concerns
Senior Ian Girczyc acknowledged that a 6-period day would give students more time in each class. But the reality, he said, is that many students lose their focus during long classes.
“People zone out towards the end, so having a longer class doesn’t necessarily mean that people are learning more,” he said.
“I think the 7-period day is really important for allowing choice and allowing people to experiment what they’re interested in,” he said.
Girczyc said he was heartened to see a wide cross-section of teachers such as math and ELA, whose classes likely are not on the chopping block.
Junior Lucy Korinth, 16, said she and her fellow students were there to support their educators.
“It’s about standing up for the teachers,” she said
Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers President-elect Brandon Diniz said he is skeptical of district officials’ claims that a 7-period schedule isn’t currently being considered.
“With the layoffs, what we’re seeing is that it’s not going to be possible to staff a 7-period bell schedule,” he said. “This is just another way the district is trying to unilaterally change the schedule and force Aptos High to move to a 6-period schedule, which offers less opportunities.”
Science teacher Jesse Sherwood said that his seniority at the school likely means that his job is safe.
“But if any of our teachers are not secure, then none of us are secure,” he said. “We’re all worried mostly about our students. These layoffs are going to impact all students at our site and all students in this district.”
PVUSD Board President Olivia Flores said that declining enrollment presents significant challenges for PVUSD schools, particularly when it comes to staffing.
“With fewer students, the number of teachers needed naturally decreases, which can lead to difficult decisions about staffing levels,” she said. “The board is committed to ensuring that our schools provide the best possible learning environment for both students and staff. Every decision we make is guided by what is in the best interest of our students, supporting their growth and success.”
Flores also said that the board’s priority is “providing a high-quality education for all students while supporting our dedicated teachers as best we can during these transitions.”
“We deeply value our educators and the vital role they play in student success, but budget constraints tied to enrollment numbers mean we must carefully evaluate our staffing needs,” she said.
This story has been updated to include comments from PVUSD Board President Olivia Flores.
PVFT needs to present a realist path forward for its members. The facts are that enrollment is down and chronic absenteeism are real. Continuing to ignore reality and using students well being as defense is both wrong and unsustainable. The district can not afford to keep as many employees as it currently has. The numbers do not lie.