Plymouth-Canton Schools Expected to Layoff 22 Teachers Tuesday

The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education is expected to take action to layoff 22 teachers during its meeting Tuesday night.

Executive Director of Human Resources Monica Merritt said the layoffs are due to projected enrollment declines for the 2013-14 school year. 

The teachers being laid off are determined based on end-of-the-year teacher evaluation ratings of ineffective, minimally effective through effective and seniority within those levels.

"It's always are hope to retain our teachers," Merritt said. "When we hire our teachers, we always look to hire the brightest and the best."

At anytime when a retirement or resignation comes in, the district will go to the layoff list and recall a teacher certified to teach the open position.

Two years ago, the district laid off more than 200 teachers. Last year, close to 70 teachers were laid off. In both instances, all the teachers were recalled to a position by start of school year, according to Merritt.

Merritt said none of the 22 teachers have received pink slips yet, but they have been notified of the board's intention to take action during Tuesday night's meeting.

Parents in the district rallied behind Bird Elementary music teacher Penny Kazmierski last week when they thought she would be among those laid off, even going so far as to create a Facebook page. 

Kazmierski was originally notified last week, but was recalled before the list was finalized for the board when two more teachers sent in letters for retirement or resignation.

Vocal Voices for Keeping Kaz was created June 5 and jumped to more than 90 likes within two days. The page received dozens of comments from Bird parents.

Kendall Cusmano wrote, "My second grade daughter showed barely any interest in music until Mrs. Kaz. Now she sings all the time and can't wait to learn an instrument. The 2nd grade concert was fantastic and my son who is in 6th grade said he wished she had been there when he had music at Bird. Please keep Mrs. Kaz! She is wonderful!"

"It was great because I have all of these emails from parents - and we were initially explaining the process and there's no exception to how we must do that," Merritt said. "Mrs. Kazmierski we all know is an exceptional teacher and she had one year seniority so she was literally the next one to be returned."

For the full list of teachers, take a look at Tuesday's agenda.