17-02-2025
42 layoffs thin schools' counselor, other ranks
Feb. 17—Forty-two Mesa Public Schools teachers and counselors last week were handed pink slips, effective May 23.
The Governing Board also approved cutting 147 district-level positions, including three administrative roles such as department directors.
The district spokeswoman said she didn't yet have information on what those positions are and how many were vacant and how many were filled.
"I'd like to express my sorrow that we're in a position that necessitates a reduction," board President Courtney Davis said. "It's been a rough couple of weeks as we've gone through this process and this is not an easy time."
Approximately 100 certified staff also will be transferred to other schools to roles that they are qualified, the district said.
Necessitating the layoffs is an anticipated loss of 1,800 students, amounting to a $16.7 million drop in funding for the state's largest school district next academic year.
Overall MPS, which also is dealing with rising operating costs, had to close a $18-million spending gap. The bulk, or 90%, of the district's budget is tied to pay.
With the job cuts, the district still maintained staffing at 50% certified staff, 48% classified staff and 2% administrative staff.
The 42 people let go comprised about 1.1% of the district's certified staff, according to Justin Wing, assistant superintendent of Human Resources.
He said every effort was made to reduce the number of layoffs such as asking employees who planned on leaving or retiring to give notice early.
"We'll continue to monitor resignations retirements as we move forward in the school year," Wing said.
Tenure and seniority were not used in determining the layoffs. Instead the cuts were based on each employee's evaluated performance and past disciplines or if their job was being eliminated.
"I find it ironic that we celebrated counselors last week and yet so many of the folks that are being riffed are counselors," board member Marcie Hutchinson said. "I was a candidate in 2018 when kids came to us begging for counselors.
"We know how valuable counselors are to our principals but we also know how valuable they are to our families and to the well-being of our children," she continued.
"I wish we could provide counselors for our kids but we just don't have the funds to do it and it really pains me to vote on so many counselors from the high school level to the elementary level because they have been incredibly valuable in helping us recover from COVID and facing the situations that we have in our society today."
Of the 42 certified staff laid off, 20 are counselors. The district also laid off PE teachers, social studies teachers, a music teacher, a social worker and two Chinese language teachers.
Hutchinson asked if there was any chance of the district rehiring the staff if the state's Classroom Site Fund becomes available or if the state Legislature appropriates more funds. She said that a majority of the staff in the district's last big layoff in 2008 were hired back.
There was some possibility with the Classroom Site Fund but he didn't hold too much hope in that, said Scott Thompson, assistant superintendent of Business and Support Services. He said the stronger option was banking on more money from the Legislature.
"Remember we've estimated all this based on the information we have here in February," Thompson said. "And some of the state's budget's not done yet.
"There's still variables. We're very early, which is good because we've notified people early but we're also making a lot of decisions before we have all the answers."
According to Wing, the district's Path2Teach program could be an option for displaced employees to train for other certified positions such as in special education.
He also noted that impacted employees can be candidates if there are openings.
"We're going to have certified openings," Wing said. "For example, we're going to have special-education openings."
Classify staff that are being laid off also can find a different role in the district, according to Wing.
"We are always needing bus drivers," he said. "So individuals who may not aspire to be a bus driver or knew that we provide CDL training at no cost may be inspired to do that to remain a Mesa Public Schools employee."
Meredith Bleak was one of three speakers talking about the reduction in force.
"We're losing enough teachers for an elementary school," she said. "I don't see a principal's name on here."
She questioned if the district was being fiscally responsible for implementing block scheduling, which "we've been told is going to cost more in the beginning and in the long run, especially when it's arbitrary and self-imposed."
"Perhaps if we didn't do block schedule we could save people's jobs," Bleak continued
A block schedule is a restructuring of the traditional school day where classes are organized into longer periods, typically 80-90 minutes. It allows for more in-depth instruction and fewer transitions between classes throughout the day, according to the district.
That scheduling system was rolled out in the 2024-25 school year at Dobson, Skyline and Westwood high campuses.
Mark Kimball noted that the district is touting a low birth rate for the decline in student population and needs to be honest why it's happening.
"What's interesting is why is there a low birth rate," Kimball said. "Why does Mesa Public Schools seem to allow teachers and staff to promote lifestyles that don't bear fruit?
"What's worked in Mesa for pretty much a century is young man marries young woman, they stay in Mesa, have a bunch of kids.
"Now we're seeing that whole thing being challenged now because of what's being promoted. These kids are, in many situations, confused. I think we're seeing some clarity in our country at this point about that confusion."
He also accused the teachers' union of being "in lock step sometimes with Planned Parenthood that takes over 12,0000 lives through abortion."
"How many of those would be added to the rolls of Mesa Public Schools. It's a hard issue but it needs to be looked at seriously."
