Vanguard B Y
T h e
Volume 97
|
Issue seVen
|
S T u d E n T S ,
F O r
S T u d E n T S
V i k i n g
m ay 1, 2009
|
PuyalluP HIgH scHool
|
A LOOK AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS See page 12
105 7 t H st. s W Pu ya l lu P Wa sH, 98371
• The anticipated $15.7 million budget deficit is four times greater than any other deficit the Puyallup School District has ever seen • Declining enrollment will cost the District $750,000
As financial resources dwindle, District officials are forced to make difficult decisions that include widespread reductions in staff and programs that could drastically diminish educational quality. See page eight for additional information. specialized skills, someone in a junior position may be able to keep their job,” aungst said. While most of those being cut will not uyallup school District’s recent budget challenges have resulted affect class increases, class sizes are still in a number of employee contract projected to hold anywhere from 36 to 40 terminations, including employees with students in each classroom this upcoming preliminary contracts. Due to these lay- school year, according to Principal Jason offs, class sizes will increase in the 2009- smith. so far, teachers’ reactions have generally 2010 school year. according to Puyallup school District not been positive to this change. upon iniDeputy superintendent Debra aungst, the tially hearing of the proposed class sizes, budget for next year is estimated to be a Katia clouse, a geometry and algebra II shortfall of about $15.7 million in compar- teacher, said she was shocked. clouse, who once taught ison to the budget for the in Florida, has had to deal 2008-2009 school year. “I can’t see with similar numbers, “We have about $200 guaR anteeD once having a class of 38 million in our general attentIon to students. currently her funds budget for a year, eVeRy stuDent largest class is one of her so the loss is just under 8 BeIng PossIBle three geometry periods percent,” aungst said. noW.” where she has 35 students. Due to budget cuts, apHer other two classes have proximately 160 district matt taRon less than 30. employees are projected englIsH teacHeR “the difference is night to be laid off. among and day in comparison,” these are six kindergarten teachers, 28.2 instructional coaches and clouse said. “I have less time for answer17.9 Fte (full-time equivalent) employ- ing questions [in a larger class].” matt taron, senior english teacher, feels ees. “In the district we have what we call that the class size increases will hurt evcertificated instructional staff, who tend eryone. “I’ve always believed lower teacher-toto be in the classrooms, and then we have classified staff such as coaches, specialists, student ratios equal a better learning envilibrarians, counselors and others,” aungst ronment for both parties,” taron said. “the said. “In all we are proposing to cut a num- larger the ratio is I fear that authentic and ber of classified staff, those who are non- positive relationships between student classroom employees, in order to reduce and teachers become harder to develop. taron had already experienced overclass size increases.” currently the district is working with a flow problems at the beginning of the year collectively bargained labor agreement when his usual average of 30 students rose along with the teachers’ union in order to to 40 in one of his classes. “It wasn’t by any means what I’d call determine cuts. seniority in staff is a major factor in deciding who stays and who goes, comfortable or conducive to learning in here,” taron said. according to aungst. taron say he is concerned that these in“However, if there is an employee with B Y
S .
B A B B i T T A n D L . A n D e R S o n p R o D u C T i o n T e A m
P
c o n c e R n e D
a B o u t
t H e
P l a n e t ?
V I s I t
nEwS You CAn uSe
musicians place at state
Band and choir students competed at the 2009 state solo-ensemble competition at central Washington university april 24 and 25. seniors tina Johnson, nathan Bosen and emily telling won individual awards and the norselanders jazz choir took second. FoR R e V I e W s oF a l oc a l z oo
|
Pag e
11
F o R
• Approximately 160 District employees are projected to be laid off • Each classroom is slated to hold 36 to 40 students minimum
crease will hinder his ability to meet the needs of students. “I’m not sure it’s possible to serve the number of kids I already have, or at least in terms I’d like to,” taron said. “It’s not at the level any of us would like to have. I can’t see guaranteed attention to every student being possible now.” long-term effects, according to clouse, as well as taron, will be that more students are going to feel lost in the shuffle. “It just gets back to whether kids feel school is a place where people care about the,” taron said. “this is what I try to do, but I can’t get to everyone everyday. [class increases] run the risk of making [students] feel more like a number than an actual human being.” clouse, although disappointed, tries to see some positive to the changes. she says she would like to see teachers using alternative teaching methods if the traditional system is too difficult with such a large class. “If anything, I’d hope it would encourage teachers to do more activities where we can see inter-teaching in the classroom where the students themselves help each other when a teacher can’t get to them,” clouse said. teacher cuts will not be finalized until may 15 when certificated instruction staff, such as principals and teachers, will be notified as to whether they will still have a job in the district come next fall, while classified employees will be informed in June. yet, according to aungst, the budget will not be final until august. “It is an ever-evolving process,” aungst I n F o R m a t I o n
o n
Wa t e R
What does it all MEAN?
said. “teachers could be laid off, but then after that date if we find we need a larger staff to accommodate more students, they could be hired again.” If this were the case, the district would return to the reduction-enforced pool of staff members and select the next most senior employee. although several teachers will not return to PHs in the fall, smith is hopeful a continuance of the programs will remain intact. “I believe other faculty members will step up to the challenge,” smith said. Fortunately, Puyallup school District’s adverse circumstances may change over the summer. stimulus money could roll in from the capitol this summer, or the state could choose to fund school districts differently, according to smith. Regardless, smith feels the staff and school will overcome these obstacles. “I am really proud of our staff; pulling together and supporting each other,” smith said. “We are colleagues and friends.” u s e
|
t u R n
t o
Pag e
1 2
guest passes required
daffodil selection begins
seniors bringing a non-student to senior Ball must complete the required paperwork by may 4 for the guest to be eligible to attend. guest Request forms can be picked up in the main office.
Junior girls interested in joining Puyallup’s Royal court next year are invited to attend an interest meeting may 8 at 2:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. For further information, contact sarah niemi.
dance seeks new members
marathon needs volunteers
the PHs Dance team is scheduled to hold auditions for the 2009-10 school year may 27 and 29 in the gym. aspiring dancers must sign up for an audition in the main office and turn in a current physical.
the Rock’n’Roll seattle marathon is seeking a race crew to help pass out water, medals, food and other necessities to runners during the weekend of June 25. For more information, visit www.rnrseattle.com.
to se e t H e P os sI Bl e Pe n a lt I e s oF P ost-PRom Pa Rt y I ng, se e Page sI x