Cuts heavy for Okaloosa teachers

 It’s going to be a long summer for many area teachers, say Okaloosa County teachers union representatives.

      Okaloosa County School District is facing one of the largest teacher cutbacks in recent years.

      There are 267 teachers and educational support personnel whose contracts have been non-renewed or no positioned for next year, according to union estimates.

      “If they’re doing the right thing, there will also be some administrative cut down,” said Greg Butler, executive director of Okaloosa’s teacher union.

      Of that total, 138 are teachers and 129 are educational support personnel.

      In addition, 20 teachers and 32 educational support personnel position have had hours cut.

      However, district officials say some of the teacher positions may be reinstated because of natural attrition from retirements and people moving.

      “My guess is that by the time school is out there won’t be more than 60 teachers in lay off,” said Mike Foxworthy, the district’s chief officer of human resources.

      But Foxworthy added, “They’re bad there’s no doubt about it.”

      There are a large number of teachers that have been no-positioned from Ocean City Elementary School, which is closing the last day of school.

      Foxworthy said many of those teachers will be placed.

      Many of the cuts lean heavily on social sciences, English and the arts.

      “The language arts was kind of a surprise to us,” said Okaloosa Superintendent of Schools Alexis Tibbetts.

  Tibbetts said schools hired additional language arts teachers when the writing component on the FCAT was going to be required for sophomores. Now the requirement has been removed.

      Some of the fine art and music programs have been affected by new physical education requirements. In elementary schools students are now required to do 30 minutes of P.E. a day, Tibbetts said.

      Tibbetts maintains that every elementary school will continue to have a fine art or music offering, but not necessarily both.

      “What you’re seeing is one or other being cut,” she said.

      Foxworthy said it’s difficult when you’re dealing with people’s lives and livelihoods. But the district continues to get mixed messages from the state concerning next year’s budget.

      “It’s very frustrating to us,” he said.

      Butler said the school district needs to start looking at various programs.

      For example, the Northwest Florida Ballet Academie, “I’m not saying that’s where is should be, but we’ll have to look at those things,” he said.

      There are also projects, like a recently approved $375,000 gym and press box renovation at Choctawhatchee High School, that Bulter said need to be closely monitored.

      “I’m not so sure they’re thinking about the kids,” he said.

      Butler reemphasized a recent statement from school board member Cindy Frakes, “There can be no sacred cows.”