Dist. 203 teacher layoffs slightly higher than the norm
Slightly more than 300 Naperville Unit District 203 employees have been notified they are being laid off in June, but most will be rehired by fall.
The notifications are an annual rite of spring in the district, which is required to notify employees who may be dismissed by March 15.
The main difference this year is that the number of full-time teachers in the group - 42 - is about 12 to 15 above average, Superintendent Alan Leis said.
"Because of enrollment declines and economic concerns we've tightly staffed," Leis said. "We haven't changed the pupil-teacher ratio but we've tightly staffed on the existing staff ratios."
In addition to the 42 full-time teachers, about 23 part-time teachers and 32 interns and substitutes also received dismissal notices.
The district expects to be down about 200 to 300 students in the fall but is unsure how that will break down by grade level or how many families will want to enroll their children in the district's kindergarten program instead of paying private tuition.
"We're trying to make conservative projections so we don't end up overstaffed. If we have the kids, then we can bring back teachers," Leis said.
Dave Griffith, president of the Naperville Unit Education Association that represents teachers, said while the reductions are unfortunate, they are not unexpected. He said he hopes some of the teachers will be able to return in the fall.
"It's one of those things that had been projected by the demographic study that was done about five years ago now, so as we watched the bubble go through, now we watch the dip," he said. "It's like an ocean wave I guess. Hopefully things will settle out."
About 200 of the dismissed employees are support personnel such as teaching assistants, tutors, lunchroom monitors and nurses.
Leis said many of these employees are let go every year and know they work on a year-to-year basis. In past years, many of them were rehired in the fall, though possibly in a different building or different position. He expects the same to be true this year.
However, for the seven assistants in the enrichment program who received notifications, the future is more uncertain. The district laid them off along with four elementary music, art and physical education teachers under a plan to reassess staffing for enrichment programs for gifted students.
Leis said the music, art and P.E. teachers don't have as many classes per week as they once did, so those who remain may be recruited to help with the enrichment classes.
"It's not that we're not going to provide the enrichment, it's who delivers it," Leis said. "Should we have the instructional assistants do it? Should we be using our music, art and P.E. teachers, or some combination of the above?"
Margie Griffith, first vice president of the Naperville Educational Support Professionals Association, spoke out at a school board meeting earlier this week about the seven enrichment assistants being dismissed.
"Over 200 students served each week at one elementary building alone will lose at least half of the enrichment experience they now enjoy with a staff member solely dedicated to the needs of those students," she said. "I share with you the concerns of NESPA that direct service to students in a well-developed, effective program should not be relegated to staff members as 'other duties as assigned.'"