Safier cuts teachers at the high school
Expo art by Rachel Nearis
May 6, 2015
School Superintendent Richard Safier cut seven staff positions at Gloucester High School this week, in a move that shocked teachers, and students.
Safier cut one teacher each from the English, Science, Math, History, and Business departments, one Guidance Counselor, and the Technology Integration Specialist.
Staff members were notified by email on Sunday night that their positions would not be renewed due to budget constraints for the FY16 fiscal year.
The cuts came as a surprise to the academic department heads, who had no prior knowledge of the reductions in force.
“There were three social studies electives with six or less kids this year,” said GHS Principal Erik Anderson. “Given the situation, my supervisors look at elective numbers that small, and look at me and wonder how we can justify it. It’s hard to say we can given the circumstances.”
There is no definitive word on what this means for students at the high school in terms of class sizes or course offerings for next year.
According to Principal Anderson, who called the cuts a “brutal reality”, at least one anticipated Advanced Placement course offering may not run.
“Class sizes will increase slightly,” said Anderson. “We’re doing everything we can to maintain smaller CP2 classes.”
Anderson also said they did not cut band or photography and “we made the decision to preserve those electives since they provide such an important opportunity for kids.”
No teachers volunteered to go on record with The Gillnetter regarding Safier’s decision.
*editor’s note: this story has been edited from its original version
** This article is closed for comments
Julia • May 11, 2015 at 6:47 am
Agree with the above comment. Let’s all be civil and mature here. We can never take what we say back from the internet…
Tyler Parisi • May 10, 2015 at 10:29 pm
Wow
Peter Randazzo • May 10, 2015 at 7:12 pm
As someone who strived to become a teacher for a long time, I am completely appalled by the actions of the administration. These cuts will seriously harm the teachers, students, and the learning environment at GHS.
Hannah LeClerk • May 10, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Another reason why I am MORE THAN ECSTATIC to be graduating this year. And Mrs. Anderson, all due respect but I’m not sure if you making comments about a teacher and your husband’s involvement in these issues is in his best interest. Teachers will read what you’ve said to Coach L. and the other comments you’ve made in support of your husband and take it the wrong way. Might be best not to publicize these issues on the school newspaper that every teacher at the high school reads on a daily basis.
Michael Munroe • May 10, 2015 at 2:20 pm
First you get rid of Mr. ******* and now you want to get rid of Coach L? Very smart! Why don’t we just not teach physics at the High School? Coach L is a role model to everyone! Coach seems unhappy because he is not afraid to speak his mind. This whole situation at the High School, as well as how the higher administration went about the cuts, is extremely unprofessional. I can personally tell you that the student body is very mad, because while he claims to listen to our ideas and wants to give us the best education; he cares more about tenure than keeping the best teachers in the school. There are way too many teachers in the school who are riding by on their tenure and not even teaching their students. Now, we have the best, most qualified teachers not coming back next year. I may not be there next year, but I don’t want to see the reputation of our town become destroyed because our future students are being cheated out of their education. If they actually listened to the students then they would know which teachers just plain do not teach and which teachers inspire their students to go on to do amazing things in this world (like Coach L and Mr. *******). Coach L is inspiring a lot of students to use their freedom of speech to stand up for what they want! We want a say! The best teachers that we have are leaving and we want to do something about it! It’s our school too!
*This comment has been editted by the Gillnetter staff due to our privacy policy*
Mark Miller • May 9, 2015 at 11:34 am
I guess they just weren’t “Superstars.” No, seriously folks. The reality is that someone with a Master’s Degree and years of experience is higher on the pay scale than a new teacher with only a BS degree. After 2 years of service, prior to being tenured, it is more economically sensible, purely business wise, to delete the higher earners, or those who will become higher earners (or tenured), in favor of new, younger, (less experienced), less expensive, and more expendable talent. It is not experience, nor quality of educator that dictates these decisions, but only a less-than-ethical excuse to cut costs and bypass the effectiveness of the teacher’s Union. There is no loyalty in this arena anymore. Especially if you live on, or are from, “The Island.” Regardless of what you hear, there is bias in hiring (not just in Gloucester), both in quality and cost of educator, and their presumed mental focus. Everyone is cutting costs, and one good way to do that is to load your staff with low earners who are expendable in favor of future low earners. Teacher turnover is increasing as tenured teachers retire and are replaced by lower wage earners, who will in turn be replaced as a matter of course. Loyalty is earned, not taken. In order for there to be loyalty of staff to administrators, department heads, and duties, loyalty must also be given in return. This practice must change in the name of quality education for public schools nationwide, not just here. The idea that it is possible to “attract and retain” quality teachers is being rendered a moot point.
Robert Gwinn • May 7, 2015 at 2:00 pm
With all of the observing of teachers this year you would expect teachers who actually teach to remain with the school, but the reality of tenure is once you reach that level instead of teaching students you expect them to cheat their way through your class. Deeply saddened to hear my physics teacher who greatly impacted my learning and what i want to do in the future will no longer be teaching at Gloucester. The administration messed up completely in the science department. Newest one in is the one being cut is not always the best nor the most fair policy.
Kurt Lichtenwald AKA Coach L. • May 7, 2015 at 8:54 am
This speaks volumes about the lack of leadership and decision making at GHS.
Department Heads were not asked for input on cuts. People with vital certifications are being cut even though their is not a break down of class sizes for next year yet. What happens when those class are full, who is going to teach them? Non certified teachers or teachers with that cert. pulled away from classes that they are invested in to cover new classes that they are not invested in.
Why was the rest of the chain of command ( V.P. , Deans, Department Heads) not informed about this decision. The principal knew but chose not to inform them..I don’t know any business that would survive being run like this..Insult to injury The emails were sent out on teacher appreciation week and the administration is hosting a breakfast (during Class time) for teacher appreciation on Friday.. Does anyone think of cause and effect…
kristen anderson • May 8, 2015 at 10:04 am
Mr. Lichtenwald:
You seem to really enjoy putting down my husbands character and leadership ability. Topsfield is looking for a High School Physics teacher. Maybe you would be happier somewhere else????
Cameron Reeve • May 8, 2015 at 12:47 pm
First of all, Topsfield doesn’t have a high school. Its Masconomet Regional High School. Mr Lichtenwald or Coach L is one of the most inspirational teachers at GHS. He brings the concept of Hands-On learning to a whole new level, and for that I am very thankful. In my opinion it should be up to the department leaders. And what about the students? Shouldn’t they have a say.? Shouldn’t the first thing a principal take into account is where his students stand on a subject? This whole fiasco is more about money than giving the students a proper education. Shouldn’t we have a say? No wonder more and more kids opt out of Gloucester High for private schools. I started at GHS my Sophmore year in the Fall of 2012 and all I heard about the new principal was that he was here to make positive changes. Are these the positive changes that we need? They seem pretty negative to me.
kristen anderson • May 8, 2015 at 5:07 pm
I never said it was Topsfield High School. I said “Topsfield”. Mr. Lichtenwald may be a good teacher, but putting down other people’s character online is disrespectful and uncalled for. Before you judge decisions recently made at the high school, you should get your facts straight. It was the superintendent who made the decisions, not the principal.
Erin Benson • May 9, 2015 at 11:03 am
Mrs. Anderson, you suggesting that a teacher at GHS should leave is also disrespectful and uncalled for.
It is my understanding that this was the superintendent’s call. But it is also my understanding that Mr. Anderson decided to email teachers instead of having a conversation with them. It is also my understanding that he did this before talking with his administrative team and department heads. It was a poor choice to do it during Teacher Appreciation Week.
I’ve also read that all of administration in GPS will receive a 10% raise. I find that interesting. 10 percent is a lot of money. We were lucky to get a 1% raise in the past. Cutting teaching positions will increase class size and will not improve state mandated test scores – which will be tied to teacher performance.
Teachers work hard every single day. Teaching is not a 9-5 job. This is why it is important to feel like you are appreciated at your school. I have NEVER heard of someone being informed BY EMAIL that their job has been cut. That was a very poor decision.
kristen anderson • May 9, 2015 at 3:03 pm
First of all, Doctor Saffier emailed all the teachers, not Mr. Anderson. Secondly, you are very mistaken. I can guarantee you the administration DID NOT get a 10% raise. My husband has not gotten an administrative raise since he has been principal. So, this will be the fourth year without any raise! And, he is one of the lowest paid HS principal’s on the North Shore! Please get your facts straight before you post.
Just so you know. I am a teacher. I work hard every day. Your principal puts in MANY more hours than he is contracted for. He does everything he can to make GHS successful.
sarah bondarev • May 9, 2015 at 11:05 am
Coach L has been one of my biggest role models since I met him my Junior year. He may be unconventional, he may speak his mind, but that is what makes him so great. He is not afraid to let people know how it is. He shows students how to thrive in the real world. He stood beside me through some of my hardest times in life. He challenges the kids who no one else does. The ones that just get passed through so they don’t have to be dealt with. If we want to talk about Coaches character, we could sure talk about other peoples. Posting in here that a position is open else where… That seems to be out of line, if what is trying to be done is scold Coach for his words. Coach has made a lasting impression on more students than can ever be kept track of. And he will continue to do so. Gloucester would be forever changed if he left, and it would lose an incredible department, funding and hope for students. Sadly, Gloucester has lost more amazing teachers than it should.
kristen anderson • May 9, 2015 at 3:10 pm
Coach L has been unhappy with things at GHS for a long time. If he is so miserable, he should leave and teach someplace that makes him happy. He continues to degrade the system and the people in it. That doesn’t make him special, it makes him a unhappy person.
Vincent Ciaramitaro • May 11, 2015 at 10:13 am
telling a man you don’t know that he is a miserable human being, that is wrong. flat out. also was it not Mr.Anderson himself that saw a system that he didn’t like and set out to change it? he didn’t leave, he stood up for what he believed and stuck out the last three years in misery, the students hate him outwardly, the teachers are more quite about it. but he stayed and defended his believes, what a man am i right?
funny,
i can take that same defence and put it towards the standpoint of Coach, he sees a broken system that he would like to fix and is not going to back down
no matter how many people criticize him, or back up the admins, or just hop in to troll some students that you don’t know
Shawn Crowley • May 10, 2015 at 8:53 pm
Mrs. Anderson,
Few key pieces of information.
1.) Mr. Lichtenwald brings up a valuable point about shared governance. As an alumnus of the class of 2012, I have heard mixed reviews on Mr. Anderson’s leadership style. From the evidence presented here in this article and the corresponding evidence it app rears his communication with stakeholders has been deemed less than adequate. This leads to the second point.
2.) As a leader, you’ll sometimes be subject to public scrutiny, and that may seem unfair. However, this is a natural part of leading a school, or any business for that matter. To go on and suggest that those opting to challenge leadership should simply leave is quite inappropriate.
3.) One should really call into question why you have made the decision to use this public forum to have this conversation. Your husband should speak for himself on this issue. By you reaching out on this issue and defending the decisions that he’s made and calling out a particular member of the staff, you’ve done him quite a disservice.
Fulton Cunha • May 11, 2015 at 10:50 am
Dear Mrs. Anderson:
Im not sure if you are aware of the amount of work that Coach has put into the robotics program, so let me inform you. He has done more for students in this year alone than your husband has in his entire career at this school. Coach has brought in thousands of dollars in funding so that he can further the program. Students get more hands on experience doing things that will actually help them in the future. Yeah, hes tough, but he does what he needs to. He looks out for his fellow teachers when they deserve better than they are getting, which is what hes trying to do now. Everyone i know that has taken his class and gone into an engineering or technology field has told me how his class was key to their success. You want to call out one of the only people who is working hard to help prepare people for a good career in the real world? i can keep going about how Coach L has every right to speak his mind. Someone needs to say it, because its true. This isn’t your school system. Stop trying to justify this. He is right, and every single person on here is backing him up. Yes, he has been unhappy with things in GHS for a long time, and that is because things in GHS have been messed up for a long time. “criticizing peoples character is disrespectful and uncalled for” I have to disagree. Criticizing peoples character is what builds peoples character, and without that the world would be full of selfish and arrogant people. Teachers that are loved by nearly all of their students and coworkers are losing their jobs simply because they can be let go without reason. Not only is that unfair to the teachers, but students futures could suffer. If you have a problem with people banding together in support of someone who is being treated unfairly, then maybe you should take another look at anyone in history that was able to make a change.
Sincerely,
Someone who actually cares
kristen anderson • May 11, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Then maybe coach L should get his administration degree and become a principal. He will then get to run the show the way he wants to. He will then see it is not an easy job. Decisions are not made lightly and it is very difficult to get everyone on board. This may be something you encourage him to do. Good luck.
Caroline Enos • May 6, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Just think of the students who lost the opportunity to excell in these classes or lost the chance to connect with these teachers. I don’t care if it saved the school money. In the end it did more harm than good. And to notify the teachers via email is pretty low. They should at least have had the decency to tell the staff in person.
Julia • May 6, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Horrible. I hope all can get jobs at other schools. Hope it’s no one I know personally. Sad all around. 🙁
Sara Corchado • May 6, 2015 at 4:11 pm
I was so excited to take AP World History and now i’m not sure if I can take it. That’s such a bummer.
Grace Movalli • May 6, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Unfair!
william eason • May 6, 2015 at 12:36 pm
They are letting all the good teachers go and keeping all the people that are not fit for the job in!
Hannah St. Cyr • May 6, 2015 at 6:05 pm
It’s absurd to think that they are getting rid of all great teachers and talk about improving the school all the time. I may be leaving the school soon but this is unfair. Plus emailing them was totally unprofessional.