Education cuts mean layoffs of Washington's newest teachers

Thousands of Washington's newest teachers will soon be told they may lose their jobs this fall, the result of deep cuts made to the state education budget.

Most school districts are still crunching numbers and don't yet know how many jobs may be lost. But one thing is sure: The axing of $800 million from public-school funding will have the biggest impact on teachers with the least experience, at a time when jobs are scarce around the state.

For parents and students, fewer teachers will translate into larger class sizes next year.

The Kent district could cut the equivalent of 129 full-time jobs. Edmonds expects to lay off 30 teachers, including some part-time staff. On Friday, Issaquah will hand out layoff notices to 158 teachers. Seattle Public Schools recently asked its School Board for permission to lay off teachers if necessary, although it's hoping to avoid that.

The Edmonds teachers union said, for example, the projected cuts will mean classes of 37 students in senior social studies at the district's four high schools, and 29 students in second- and third-grade classrooms. Other districts say they don't yet know how class size will be affected.

The layoff numbers could be high because districts are being conservative about how many teachers they may need to cut. By state law, they have a May 15 deadline to notify teachers of pending layoffs, or they must employ them for the next school year.

The state Superintendent of Public Instruction's office thinks 3,000 to 5,000 teachers could lose their jobs. The Washington Education Association (WEA), the state teachers union, predicts 6,000 in public schools and higher education could be notified of layoffs.

"It is going to be very tough," said WEA spokesman David Phelps, calling it the worst teacher cutback in the state in 30 years.

The WEA number is based, in part, on worst-case figures from district offices. For example, Issaquah has said 198 teaching positions could be eliminated. However, after taking retiring teachers into account, only 158 teachers are actually getting layoff notices, said spokeswoman Sara Niegowski.

But even that number is high, and Issaquah hopes to restore many of those jobs in the coming weeks or months, as the revenue picture becomes more clear. The notices will hit the least-experienced teachers especially hard. For example, Issaquah will give layoff letters to all teachers with three or fewer years of experience, Niegowski said.

Schools also are having a hard time forecasting how many teachers will retire, meaning fewer layoffs.

Only about 25 Kent teachers have told the district they're going to retire next year — half the number that normally leave, said Kent spokeswoman Becky Hanks. Hanks said teachers can decide to retire at any point in the year.

Seattle is budgeting for 161 fewer teachers, librarians, counselors and other certificated staff members for the next school year, but doesn't know if it will have to lay off any because some teachers will retire, move to jobs in other district or leave teaching all together.

More than just jobs are on the cutting block. For example, Kent is cutting $1 million in administrative costs, eliminating 3 ¼ elementary-school assistant principals and getting rid of its fifth-grade orchestra program, Hanks said.

The district also expects to make a second round of cuts later this spring from secretaries, support personnel and other nonteaching positions.

The Northshore school district is considering eliminating its junior-high sports program. It has already told nine support staffers that their contracts won't be renewed and expects to notify about 10 teachers they will be laid off.

Edmonds already has approved the closing of two small elementary schools, Woodway and Evergreen, and is considering cutting fifth-grade instrumental music, reducing librarians at four elementary schools to half-time, increasing fees for participating in sports and asking athletes to find their own transportation to games within a 15-mile radius.

"Teachers are discouraged and frustrated," said Andy Nofziger-Meadows, president of the Edmonds Education Association. "Resources become scarcer, classes get larger and we don't see an end in sight."

Seattle Times staff reporters Linda Shaw and Lynn Thompson contributed to this report. Katherine Long: 206-464-2219 or klong@seattletimes.com; Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com; Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com