School tech job spared
The city school board has spared the job of district technology director Teri Tsosie, but left three fulltime teachers and five part-timers on a layoff list. They will lose their jobs in the fall unless the district finds more money before then.
In recent years, fundraising efforts by parents and other community members have made up about 10 percent of the operating budget of the kindergarten-through-eighth grade school district, partially offsetting cuts in state revenue, and this year’s fundraising total is not yet known.
On the layoff list, approved by the board to meet a state mandated deadline, are Joanne Murphy, a third and fourth grade teacher, Michael Schlimmer, a physical education teacher and Nizhona Tsosie, a technology, computer and multimedia teacher.
Also on the list are April Rodriguez, a part-time Spanish teacher, Robert Hecker, a part-time science and physical education teacher, Kimberly Taylor, a part-time language arts and social studies teacher, Robyn Alatorre, a part-time art and social studies teacher, and Molly Hoosack, a part-time, temporary employee.
The position of Teri Tsosie, the district’s respected technology director, was spared after board members declared it a necessity.
“My personal opinion is that you can’t exist in this world without a technology director,” board member Carleen Beste said. She said students would not develop computer skills or have internet access in classrooms without the technology director.
Board President Lisa Claypoole cast a dissenting vote against approval of the layoff list.
“This is a lot aimed at middle school electives,” said the former Hermosa middle school teacher.
Board member Cathy McCurdy asked Claypoole where she would find the money to avoid the layoffs.
Schlimmer, a popular P.E. teacher whose name remains on the layoff list, received the support of a number of parents last fall, and at that time his position appeared to be safe. However, board members at the time told parents that under a collective bargaining contract, teachers must be laid off based on their seniority, limiting the school board’s flexibility. ER