June 2008
Dear Shoreline Families:
As we plan for the 2008-09 school year in Shoreline, the staffing process has begun in earnest. Based upon current and projected enrollment, certificated and classified staff is being allocated to each school. These allocations are preliminary and will need to be adjusted as the school year begins dependent upon the actual enrollment at each site.
The District has made a commitment to our educational community, both staff and parents, to clearly identify the expectations and potential outcomes of this process. We truly understand the need for clear communication around this topic. None of us want to experience the angst created in our system at the beginning of this year by the late changes in our staffing model.
At the secondary level, it has often been the practice to hire extra part-time certificated staff to reduce class sizes. This year was the first time, however, that staffing ratios at the elementary level were addressed system-wide with part-time certificated support staff. For the 2008-09 school year, the District does plan to continue to hire additional part-time certificated staff at the elementary classroom level and avoid as many contractual overload situations in our classrooms as possible.
Expanding this process to the elementary level has allowed us to be far more efficient with our resources, while continuing to provide additional support for our classrooms where there are larger numbers. Although not perfect, there have been many positive experiences with this model in our schools. We will continue listening to our certificated staff and principals to improve the implementation of this model.
A recent collaborative effort between Shoreline Education Association (SEA) leadership and District leadership has resulted in a “Grade Level Support Plan,” which provides an option to elementary school staff for creating more balanced class sizes. Principals will be meeting with classroom teachers in our schools to determine the best use of the certificated staffing allocation provided at each grade level. Possible split/level classroom configurations will also be identified early in the process and shared with teachers.
The District understands the interest in minimizing unexpected situations in the fall for students, staff and parents. Although we will make sincere efforts to minimize the unexpected changes, we unfortunately will not be able to eliminate them. Initial teacher and student assignments are tentative and reassignments might be required in September once actual enrollment is known. These changes, however, will be done as early as possible, to provide as minimal disruption as possible.
We are truly hopeful that we will be able to implement our staffing model far more effectively in 2008-09 based upon the lessons learned and the on-going and valuable input from our principals and teaching staff.
Thank you for your support of Shoreline Schools this year. We will see you in September.