SACRAMENTO, Calif — Tamara Toby was laid off last week.
The preschool teacher in the Sacramento City Unified School District was one of 12 laid off as the district continues to address a $27 million deficit that predates the coronavirus pandemic.
Of the 12 let go were Toby and two other teachers who were part of the Parent Participation Preschool program (PPP) a 72-year-old hybrid program that combines early childhood education with parenting classes.
“It's unique, and I would hope the district would want to continue something like our program,” said Toby, who worked in the program for 10 years. “And if not continue it, grow it.”
Unfortunately, that’s not likely to happen.
The adult education program costs about $440,000 annually to run but only collects about $160,000 in fees every year. Plus, despite caring for about 200 preschoolers, the program is considered an adult education program and is not eligible for supplemental funding from the district.
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A district spokesperson told ABC10 in a statement that while it’s a “wonderful program,” it’s not one that the district has resources to sustain.
“Without a fee structure that would make it self-sustaining, we are unable to continue funding this adult education program,” the district said. “We are actively working with families to explore a fee structure for participants that would make the program self-sustaining in light of the district’s budget situation.”
Avoiding a state takeover amid a pandemic
In 2018, state officials announced SCUSD had a high risk of being taken over by the state. Since then, the district has worked to find ways to cut cost and reduce spending in an effort to avoid what seemed inevitable.
Last year, a state auditor’s report said that the district had financially failed in three main areas — teacher salaries, employee benefits and special education. The state auditor warned that if the district did not cut teachers wages and handle its special education funding, it would deplete its general fund by October 2021.
Now, with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the district faces even more financial constraints.
A district spokesperson said SCUSD is now looking at the possibility of “an additional $9 million to $50 million negative impact” to next year’s budget.
“It is these types of stories that make our current budget crisis so difficult,” the district said. “Losing any employee is one too many, but unfortunately we do not have the funding to continue paying for the program.”
Because of the pandemic, the district is expected to receive about $16 million from the federal government, which may be enough to help the district transition into the next school year but won’t be nearly enough to help it avoid a state takeover.
In an interview last week with ABC10, SCUSD Superintendent Jorge Aguilar said the district is even more likely to be taken over by the state now because of the deficit it will soon face.
“Which is why we will continue to advocate for more resources,” Aguilar said.
While the school district isn't the largest in the area, it is home to nearly 47,000 students and nearly 4,200 teachers, staff, counselors and administrators.
The increased deficit and the recent layoffs have teachers fearing the worst.
Anna Gabriela, an American Legion High School English teacher, said she worries that “teachers are going to get laid off. Funds are going to be depleted.”
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The struggles come as the district is attempting to roll out a new grading policy that they say will ease students’ stress while they continue their distance learning because of the state and local stay-at-home orders designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The policy would mean lowering the percentage threshold for grades. In other words, an 80-100% in class means an A, while a 70-79% equals a B grade and so on.
The Sacramento City Teachers Association, which has been at odds with the district over cutting teachers’ salaries and benefits to avoid a state takeover, sent a letter demanding that the grading changes be put on hold until they can provide input.
The union alleges that the district did not bargain with them with the grading policy before announcing its implementation.
The district said that there is no merit to the union’s claims.
“It’s unfortunate that, as we are trying to protect our students and equity within our district, SCTA continues to focus on petty politics,” the district said. “We will continue to focus on the academic, social and emotional needs of our students, as we did when we adopted this grading policy. This hold harmless framework — which has been widely adopted throughout the state — gives our students an opportunity to excel and incentive to engage during an incredibly difficult period.”
Still, Gabriela said she thinks the district’s new grading policy is just a ploy to “inflate our numbers and have a high graduation rate” in order to avoid a state takeover.
“I believe that I am lying to parents, and I am lying to students, telling them they are passing when in reality they are not,” Gabriela said of the grading policy.
Keeping a decades-old program alive
Rebecca Gross and her children are part of Parent Participation Preschool at Tahoe Elementary School, the adult education program that’s on the district’s chopping block in order to cut spending in the coming year.
"Adult education sounds like perhaps there's a room full of adults that won't have a teacher next year,” Gross said of the program.
In reality, Gross, other parents and some 200 preschoolers are expected to pay the price of the district laying off three preschool teachers.
"And that leaves kids like mine without anywhere else to go,” Gross said.
Meanwhile, Tamara Toby, one of the three teachers who were laid off, is fighting to at least keep the program alive.
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Toby said the program should be grown instead of cut, because it builds a strong educational foundation for her young students, and produces engaged parents among her adult students, who ultimately help the district by volunteering.
“It’s a value that you can't really put a number value on it — you know, a dollar sign,” Toby said.
Since the announcement of the layoffs, a petition to Superintendent Aguilar and the district’s board of supervisors began circulating, demanding that the district find a way to keep the program.
The petition, which was created by Lisa Schirmer, argues that early education programs like the PPP helps by “enriching the lives of Sacramento’s children” who otherwise might not have strong early learning programs.
“At a time when many are pushing for the expansion of access to preschools and early childhood education, it is disheartening to hear that one of our most established and well-regarded community preschool programs is in danger,” the petition reads.
Toby is among more that 1,200 people who have already signed the petition.
“I’m going to fight until the bitter end.” Toby said.
Follow the conversation on Facebook with Van Tieu and Chris Thomas.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story used the term fired instead of laid off. The text has been updated.
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