CHANGE IS ON THE HORIZON
About 50 teachers will be moving sites next school year due to a PRJUSD board decision that will cause grade changes, site changes, and staff changes.
The current grade span configuration consists of elementary schools being grades k-5, middle schools grades 6-8, and the high school grades 9-12. Next school year, elementary schools will be K-6, and Lewis Middle School and Flamson Middle School will combine into one middle school, consisting of grades 7-8. The dual immersion program at Georgia Brown will move to Lewis’s current school site and will consist of a new format, grades K-8.
“There are pros and cons, so if we can focus on the pros and make what we can work well, it will be more successful,” District Superintendent of Human Resources Shauna Ames said.
PRJUSD schools have had the same structure since 1981, nearly 40 years. This is the largest district decision ever made, and the first time bringing a K-6 program to PRJUSD, a K-8 dual immersion program, as well as one 7-8 grade middle school.
Of the 50 teachers that will be moving sites next year, 30 are going from Lewis to Flamson, or from a current middle school position to a sixth grade position at an elementary school.
Classified staff will be moving from Lewis to Flamson, another position in the district, or lose their current position. Currently 3 classified staff members have lost their current position because it will not be needed next school year, but they have access to other open positions throughout the district.
Linda Berry, is the current attendance clerk for Lewis and is 1 of 3 classified staff that will be laid off with the closing of Lewis.
Luckily for Berry, she will have a job as an attendance clerk next year at Winifred Pifer elementary school. However, Berry is currently an 8 hour employee with benefits, and taking the job at Pifer will demote her to a 6 hour employee with no benefits.
“I could take the demotion or go on unemployment,” Berry said .
She chose to take the demotion and keep a job.
One of the biggest challenges Ames has faced is helping the staff members with their feelings on the changes. Teachers and staff from Lewis feel an attachment to the school and the closing of a historical piece of Paso Robles is causing sadness.
“Overall the staff have done an amazing job at expressing their concerns, worries, and unease, while at the same time remaining committed to the students of our district,” Ames said.
A $9.5 million budget has been allocated for the new changes, according to District Superintendent of Finances Brad Pawlowski. About $6.5 million will be going to Lewis to make it suitable for K-8 students, and $3 million of it will be going to Flamson for restructuring and adjustments.
Ames has hopes that even though “there will be added expenses to make this all happen, over time it should be saving costs to have one less campus to maintain and staff.”
The benefits of these changes may not arise instantly, but Ames predicts overtime there will be unintended positive effects, the with the help of staff, the district will see great results.
