Contracts of Psychologists Not Renewed
By Shirley Jinkins, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas
Mar. 28–MANSFIELD — Despite pleas from parents and educators, Mansfield school trustees terminated the contracts of three licensed school psychologists from the special education staff Tuesday.
Trustees voted unanimously to approve a nonrenewal of the three contracts.
Because of a state-mandated reduction in the tax rate, the school district faces an estimated $5 million budget shortfall in 2007-08, when two new schools are set to open.
The district is considering cuts in special education, fine arts and athletics, and it could increase the student-teacher ratio to 28:1 from 27:1 in some schools, eliminating the need for about 30 teaching positions. About 50 people attended the meeting, including a few dozen parents.
Karen Conaway of Grand Prairie spoke for a group of special-education students’ parents who have mobilized out of concern about changes in the department.
She presented trustees with a cost-cutting proposal that she said would not result in layoffs.
She said the district could save $463,521.91 by considerably cutting back days and hours of existing personnel.
Superintendent Vernon Newsom said the parents’ plan would have had more of a negative effect on students in the classroom than the administration’s plan, which doesn’t cut back on classroom teachers’ hours.
The psychologists are not certified as teachers, and their professional credentials do not transfer to other district positions.
Four psychologists remain on staff, but the hours of three are being cut back.
Lynn Gustafson of Burleson said she relies on the psychologists.
“As a special-education teacher, I benefit greatly from the counselors’ and psychologists’ experience and expertise,” she said. “They give me advice, and I depend on that advice.”
The contract terminations were made now because staff contract renewals must be addressed before the budgeting process begins in April.
The contracts of Jacquelyn Pack, Carla Egyed and Christian Rewoldt were discussed in closed session and voted on about 10:45 p.m., when the public meeting resumed.
IN THE KNOW
Other business
TAKS results
Trustees received a report on the performance of third- and fifth-graders on the recently administered TAKS reading tests.
Districtwide, 360 more students were tested than in 2006, and the percentage passing in the third grade was 93 percent, the same as 2006. The fifth-grade passing rate was 86 percent, a point higher than last year.
Forty-five percent of the third-graders met the commended, or top, performance standard, while 28 percent of the fifth-graders were commended. Last year, 52 percent of third-graders were commended and 25 percent of fifth-graders.
Employee survey
Results were released of a workplace survey of 1,262 district teachers and other employees conducted this year, measuring their job satisfaction.
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Shirley Jinkins, 817-548-5565 syjinkins@star-telegram.com
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Copyright (c) 2007, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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