Latest news with #ESPs
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Nobody wins.' Parents, staff react to deep cuts at Tacoma Public Schools
As Pierce County's largest school district has been implementing a series of cuts to tackle its $30 million budget deficit, teachers, staff and parents have said the cuts will disproportionately affect the district's most vulnerable students and employees. Tacoma Public Schools last week announced that it cut several programs and scores of staff positions, choosing not to renew contracts for 105 provisional employees and implementing changes that 'directly impacted' 118 education-support professionals and 30 office professionals. The district has attributed its looming deficit for the 2025-2026 school year to insufficient funding from the state Legislature — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law lawmakers' final $78 billion operating budget on Tuesday. The district has said that staff salaries and benefits account for 85% of the district's general budget and that the state has only covered 65% of those costs. Beginning and top salaries for teachers at Tacoma Public Schools rank number one out of the top 10 school districts in the state and among 12 neighboring districts, Tacoma Public Schools reported. 'These choices are not a reflection of the job our staff does,' the district said of the staff cuts on its website. 'We value them and the incredible work they do, so much so that they are the highest paid teachers among the 10 largest school districts in the state.' Staff, teachers and parents in the district have said that the district cut education-support staff and early-career teachers on provisional contracts before making sufficient cuts to six-figure salaries at the district level. Cuts from the district – which it has said it will continue to implement through June 13 – include the elimination of services like its 'peer inclusion program.' Melissa Roach, a peer-inclusion educator at Stanley Elementary School, said the program was designed to help young students with special needs learn how to be around other students in a classroom setting, with the goal of eventually being able to transition to a general education classroom. 'Education support professional', also known as an ESP, is the umbrella term for employees at the district who have jobs that range from nurses to bus monitors. Several ESPs who have been impacted by the staffing and program cuts are also referred to as 'paraeducators,' staff who help relieve teachers of various classroom tasks by working with students who have special needs in different capacities. Roach, who is also the vice president of the union that represents ESPs, is currently without an assignment for the next academic year given the elimination of her program. She's been 'displaced,' meaning she will join a pool of several other displaced ESPs to be first in line for the next ESP job openings in the 2025-2026 academic year. As the district reorganizes its ESP staff, some are likely to return as ESPs in different positions, Roach said. By her estimates, about 60% of those staff will likely be able to go back to working full time. '[The district] like to tout their giant graduation rates and how well all their kids are doing,' Roach told The News Tribune. 'But that happens because there are supports in place – that they put in place, wonderful programs – that they've decided to take away. Nobody wins.' Jeremy Cragin, a building rep for the Tacoma Education Association, said the cuts also have impacted teachers who are classified as 'provisional certificated staff,' meaning they have a teaching or educational staff associate certificate from the state but have served at the district for less than three years. 'At Jennie Reed Elementary, our entire kindergarten is first- and second-year teachers. They're outstanding teachers, amazing teachers, people that Tacoma Public Schools should want to keep and incentivize to keep,' Cragin told The News Tribune. 'Now they're going to have to go look for work elsewhere, sadly, because they're being cut.' Cragin criticized the district for choosing to make the cuts, saying it should have reduced administrator salaries first. He cited a retreat that several district staff members attended in 2024 that cost the district nearly $9,000 – double the cost that Tacoma Public Schools originally reported to the public. 'It's really eyebrow raising that they would make that choice rather than start trimming off the top,' he said. ESP compensation ranges from as low as about $26 per hour to as high as $54 per hour, according to the union's collective bargaining agreement, depending on the amount of time an employee has been with the district, educational background and position. District officials like Superintendent Josh Garcia have in contrast made above $300,000 per year in the 2023-2024 academic year, according to public data. Tacoma Public Schools spokesperson Kathryn McCarthy said the district has eliminated 69 administrative positions as it has contended with an ongoing budget deficit: 22 positions in 2023, 38 in 2024 and nine in 2025. Exempt staff at the district level also did not receive salary step increases for the current academic year, McCarthy told The News Tribune in a statement. Kari Madden is president of the Tacoma Federation for Education Support Professionals and has worked for the district for 18 years. Madden said she's never seen this level of staff cuts from the district. Madden is a special education program paraeducator at Foss High School and said the loss of so many support staff for special needs students at Tacoma Public Schools comes as many ESPs are noticing higher rates of aggressive behavior. 'Support from paraeducators is crucial in that we already get hurt as it is, and when you are taking away a lot of the student support that's there, I'm worried that other students are going to get hurt,' she told The News Tribune. Jamie Damazio, president of Jennie Reed Elementary School's Parent Teacher Association, said the district's cuts will result in overworked teachers and will exacerbate the existing teacher shortage. 'I am fed up with people so far removed from the actual schools making decisions like they are crossing line items off on a spreadsheet,' she wrote to The News Tribune in an email. 'It's disheartening that every time there are cuts, it always starts with the people who will be impacted the worst.'
Tahawul Tech
11-04-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Solis poised to transform Dubai's skyline and deserts into beacons of sustainability
Over three electrifying days at Intersolar Middle East Dubai, Solis Ginlong Technologies reaffirmed its position as the global leader in solar inverter innovation, drawing unprecedented crowds to its booth, with its Solis Solarator Series—a line-up engineered to conquer the Middle East's harshest climates while accelerating the region's clean energy transition. Marking their 20th anniversary, the event became a rallying point for distributors, energy service providers (ESPs), and policymakers, all united by a singular goal: to harness solar power that works as hard as the desert sun. The Solarator Series: Built for the Middle East, Trusted by the World At the heart of the showcase you could see their inverters are built with a technology to power the world with clean energy—each rigorously tested to deliver unmatched performance under extreme heat, sandstorms, and grid volatility: S6-EH1P(3-8)K-L-PLUS Residential Energy Storage, Redefined : With 32A MPPT current input and 6-stage smart charge/discharge , this inverter transforms sun-drenched rooftops into round-the-clock power hubs, safeguarding battery health even in 50°C heat. S6-EH3P(8-15)K02-NV-YD-L Large-Scale Flexibility : Engineered for 48V low-voltage batteries and diverse chemistries, it adapts seamlessly to sandstorm-prone environments, making it a favorite for expansive villas and commercial complexes. S6-EH3P(29.9-50)K-H Industrial-Grade Powerhouse : Featuring 70A+70A dual-port discharge and 20A string capacity , this titan powers mega-projects with military-grade resilience, from solar farms to factories. C&I and Grid-Tied Excellence: Alongside the Solarator Series, Solis spotlighted its commercial & industrial (C&I) and grid-tied inverters, solutions already trusted in Dubai's skyscrapers and Saudi industrial parks for their seamless grid integration and ROI-driven performance. A Surge of Momentum: Distributors, ESPs, and the Road Ahead The exhibition sparked more engagements at the Solis booth, with distributors and ESPs flocking to secure partnerships for the region's booming solar market. Highlights included: Strategic Alliances : More distributors committed to deploying Solarator systems, citing their EUPD Top Brand pedigree and BloombergNEF Tier 1 certification. ESPs' Verdict : 'Solis inverters aren't just products—they're insurance against downtime,' noted a leading UAE energy provider, referencing projects like Broumama's 100 kW microgrid in Lebanon and Ningxia's 1GW desert installation , where Solis systems thrive despite relentless sand and heat. Policy Dialogue : Government representatives explored Solis's role in achieving Dubai's 75% clean energy target by 2050 , with particular interest in grid-tied solutions proven in Pakistan's 300kW Kansur Punjab project . Why Solis Stands Apart: 20 Years of Trust, 20 Years of Tomorrow Battlefield-Tested : From powering 38.6 kW UAE apartments to sustaining gigawatt-scale deserts, our inverters deliver when it matters most. Localized Power : MENA-based technical teams ensure rapid response—no project is too remote, no challenge too complex. Future-Proof Engineering : Every Solarator product is built to last and stand the test of time Dubai's Solar Revolution Starts Now
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trillion Energy Announces SASB Field Operational Update
Vancouver, B.C., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trillion Energy International Inc. ('Trillion' or the 'Company') (CSE: TCF) (OTCQB: TRLEF) (Frankfurt: Z62), is pleased to announce an operational update for the SASB offshore gas project, Turkey. During January 2025 the Company completed installation of new velocity string tubing in two wells located on tripods (Alapli-2 and Bayhanli-2) in an operation that took approximately two weeks' time. Previously, the Company completed installation of new tubing in four wells on the Akcakoca platform during the fall of 2024. A total of 6 wells have now received the new smaller tubing size to mitigate water loading conditions. The tripod wells continue to receive nitrogen injections to stimulate production, however, operations have been delayed over the past few weeks due to stormy winter weather conditions. Both Alapli-2 and Bayhanli-2 initially responded positively to the ongoing operational efforts, however, stable long-term flow rates have yet to be sustained. The Company is currently preparing to stimulate the Akcakoca-3 and South Akcakoca-2 wells in the upcoming week using nitrogen, upon suitable weather conditions arriving. The Company has sourced a gas lift compressor system for the Akcakoca platform which will provide continuous gas lifting injection to certain wells to assist in production. Additionally, the Company plans to enhance production by installing: A Progressive Cavity Pump (PCP) in a well Two slim-hole Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs) attached to the new tubing in two wells These strategic interventions involving artificial lift are critical to sustaining long-term production rates and optimizing well performance and are expected to occur in the upcoming months. About the Company Trillion Energy International Inc is focused on oil and natural gas production for Europe and Türkiye with natural gas assets in Türkiye. The Company is 49% owner of the SASB natural gas field, a Black Sea natural gas development and a 19.6% (except three wells with 9.8%) interest in the Cendere oil field. More information may be found on and our website. Contact Sean Stofer, ChairmanBrian Park, VP of Finance1-778-819-1585E-mail: info@ Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including without limitation, statements pertaining to the Company's ability to obtain regulatory approval of the executive officer and director appointments. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. Trillion does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. These statements are no guarantee of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, delay, change of strategy, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and which may change over time. Accordingly, actual results and strategies could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include unforeseen securities regulatory challenges, COVID, oil and gas price fluctuations, operational and geological risks, changes in capital raising strategies, the ability of the Company to raise necessary funds for development; the outcome of commercial negotiations; changes in technical or operating conditions; the cost of extracting gas and oil may increase and be too costly so that it is uneconomic and not profitable to do so and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's filings on including the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and subsequent filings. For a full summary of our oil and gas reserves information for Turkey, please refer to our Forms F-1,2,3 51-101 filed on and or request a copy of our reserves report effective December 31, 2022 and updated January 31 2023. Sign in to access your portfolio
