Jonata School music teacher
Zell to remain
More
than 200 parents and students who gathered at Jonata
School in Buellton after learning of a short-notice meeting of the school board
to consider scrapping the school’s music program cheered when the board
announced it had decided by a 4-0 vote not to eliminate the position of the
program’s teacher, Ron Zell.
The
meeting, classified by Board President Julie Everett as a so-called special
meeting to get around the 72 hour notice required by California’s public
meeting law, known as the Brown Act, was called specifically to discuss and
vote on whether to reduce the school’s staff by one teacher: Zell. Ostensibly,
the staff reduction was being considered to deal with expected state school
budget cuts by eliminating the music program Zell leads.
Parents
at the meeting expressed concern that the meeting violated the Brown Act
because only 24 hours notice was given and because the meeting was convened in
closed session without public participation and without announcing in an open
meeting the purpose of the executive session.
Meeting
in the Jonata School library, board trustees Joyce Azevedo, Julie Everett, Jon Macaluso,
and Terry Schrepel met with school Superintendent Tom
Cooper in closed session to discuss the possible termination of Zell and the music
program due to budget reductions forced by declining state funding for
education. The meeting was scheduled under the abbreviated “special meeting”
notice provision because California’s Education Code mandates that the school
board inform an employee no later that March 15 if
his or her services are required for the ensuing school year.
When
asked why he thought his position was being considered for elimination, Zell
said that he thought the district was “top heavy” with administrators.
He noted that “the superintendent makes what three teachers make.”
Zell
went on to say that he felt that “administration salaries should be trimmed
first.” Additionally Zell was concerned that Cooper directed the action against
him because he is the head of the teachers union and leads negotiations for a
new contract.
“I
believe this is a personal vendetta,” said Michelle Moreno, a concerned parent
with a child in the music program.
At
the conclusion of the closed meeting, the public was admitted at about 6:40
p.m. Julie Everett read a prepared
statement after the announcement that the board had unanimously voted not to
eliminate the music program. She said that the board needed to discuss this as
a “precautionary measure,” adding that “not to consider ... cutting a $100,000
program would be irresponsible.”
Everett
noted that the shortfall in the schools budget for this year would be $111,970,
swelling to $180,350 next year and $359,600 the year after.
“We
are not going to put up with what [the state is] doing to our children
regarding educational budget cuts!” she declared. “Tell your elected officials!”
During
public comments, 15 members of the audience thanked the board for making the
decision to keep Zell and the music program.
After
the public comment period, Superintendent Cooper expressed his outrage that the
state of California put the school board in the position of having to look for
money-saving program cuts.
“I
am outraged that the state will pay a prison guard twice what they pay a
teacher,” Cooper said.
“I’ve
never said ‘no’ to Ron Zell,” he said, to which Zell responded, “What about the
contract negotiations?”
Cooper
denied that the proposal to cut the program was directed at Zell as the chief
negotiator for the teachers union.
“A person in my position has to consider what’s best for
the kids,” Cooper said. He denied that his actions had anything to do with the
union negotiations, and said that they fell only under his responsibilities
dictated by the state code of education.