Hart district students will have five fewer days of school this year as part of a new agreement between the Hart district’s teachers union and the administration, officials said Thursday.
The William S. Hart Union High School District school year will be 175 days instead of the standard 180 days.
Because of the five furlough days, the last day of school will be May 26 instead of the originally scheduled June 2. Graduation ceremonies will be held from May 19 to 26 and May 27 will be a student-free work day for teachers.
Schools will also be closed Nov. 12.
Hart District Teachers Association President Leslie Littman said the shortened school year makes it difficult for educators to meet the rising demands for student achievement.
“It’s a shame that the cuts to public education over the past several years are making fundamental changes in student’s academic programs,” Littman said.
In total, the five unpaid days off amount to a 3.24-percent pay cut for the roughly 900 members of the Hart District Teachers Association. The move saves the district $1.7 million.
The 23,000-student district is able to get through its finances this year, but officials project a $9.5 million shortfall next year followed by a $28 million hole by the year 2013-14. The cuts come as school districts across California have watched its budgets get slashed because of reduced funding from the state.
Much of the Hart district’s budget hinges on negotiations with its unions, which are expected to begin soon.
“The is a horrible economic crisis, and the association has always stepped in and done it’s part,” Littman said.
The Hart district board signed off on the agreement Wednesday. Union members also recently ratified the agreement with 421 voting in favor of it and 48 opposing it, Littman said.
The agreement also calls for the revision of how principals evaluate teachers. The revised process will be more in line with newly adopted California Standards for the Teaching Profession.
The contract also creates a district Technology Committee, made up of teachers and administrators to evaluate the academic use of technology in the classroom.
