Teachers are needed

By now, we all know that there will be major manpower reductions in our schools because the parcel tax did not pass. At LCHS, teachers of core subjects, including English, math and science, have been informed that they will not be returning under the current budget.

High school English teacher James Padilla is one of the many who have been given pink slips. Not only is Mr. Padilla a graduate of Stanford University, he is an experienced teacher who speaks both Latin and Greek, and incorporates his travels in other parts of the world into his teaching. A young group of teachers, slated to be the next generation stalwarts as others retire, have also been given notice.

Parents, if you feel like I do, that it is vital for your child to receive quality instruction, this is the time to act. We have to make our donations to the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation now, so that the district can inform teachers that their positions have been retained - before the summer when they will find jobs in other districts. If we adopt a wait and see attitude, we will lose them.

If, like me, you have thought about private school, then consider this: by donating a fraction of the tuition to the District through the Foundation, we will be preserving our home values, as any drop in test scores will have a negative impact on property prices. However, if we restore our budget, our children can continue to receive quality education and have opportunities that many private schools cannot offer. As parents, we will receive tax relief for the monies we donate, in effect bringing our tax dollars home to our children’s education-whilst sparing them the agony of having to reestablish themselves in a new environment. Please remember, the time to act is now.

Jacqueline Chen

LCHS Parent