Though California still hasn’t completed its state budget, many programs and institutions have been affected by budget cuts intended to close the $19 billion deficit.
In Hayward, one pre-school has been affected as layoff notices have been delivered to at least seven child development teachers. Parents have been informead that the last day the Helen Turner Preschool will be open is July 15.
On June 3, the Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) held a community outreach meeting at Burbank School to discuss the school’s financial situation in relation to the cuts. Apparently, the HUSD is facing an $18 million reduction in their budget for the upcoming fiscal year.The meeting was mainly lead by Janis Duran, superintendent, with the support of a panel, moderation by city manager Fran David and introductory words by Mayor Michael Sweeney. The two hour meeting included comments from a couple of other politicians who were running for office and other members of the community who were concerned about the way the district has been handling their budget spending.
People questioned the high paid employees in a district that is second to worst according to the base academic performance index results. Aspiring city council member Frank Farias told the panel, “If you were running a company, out in the real world, you would all be fired.”
The Helen Turner situation was completely avoided at the meeting, despite the fact some parents were present and eager to inquire. Outside, a working single mother of two school age children, said she will lose her job should they close the pre-school program.
The average salary for a pre-school teacher at Helen Turner Preschool is $62,208 annually. The average salary for a day care provider is $51,180 annually. These seem like very generous salaries for pre-school, especially when you consider that many of the teachers at Helen Turner work only 183 days per year (following the regular K-12 school calendar).
The program has 25 staff and 264 children distributed in 11 rooms. Helen Turner day care and pre-school operate solely on state budget funding.
Another teary-eyed parent at the meeting complained about the fact that she was not given an opportunity to ask about the Helen Turner situation, and why the district had kept this information from parents until the last minute.
At a later meeting held at Helen Turner’s cafeteria on June 9, school district representatives gave parents the “good news” assuring they school will not close, however they will close the day care program for children under four years of age.
Teachers spoke with tears in their eyes, in front of the crowded cafeteria, saying how much they love their jobs and the children. The district’s response at all times was that there is nothing they can do as a school, because the cuts are coming from Sacramento, and they are acting responsibly by being realistic and giving the teachers the opportunity to seek employment somewhere else.
In the end, some blamed the district, the district blamed Sacramento, while others smartly washed their hands, being thankful the crisis did not reach their desks or their own children.