Although all of the Montessori teachers in the Ridge Meadows School District received layoff notices, everyone one of them is expected to be re-hired for the next school year, say local educators.
The Montessori method involves specialized materials, student choice of activity, mixed-age classrooms and students discovering new concepts instead of receiving direct instruction. It is an approach to education that many parents consider innovative and desirable for their children.
Concerns have been raised that all of the local teachers who have been trained in this method are among the 177 educators given layoff notices for next year. Montessori teaching is offered at Hammond Elementary up to Grade 6.
But School District 42 manager of communications and community relations Irena Prochop explained that most of the educators given layoff notices will be re-hired. The board’s budget, with $5.6 million in cuts, will result in the loss of 34 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
Prochop said the district has no plan to reduce its Montessori programs, and these teachers have a unique skill set that will see them returned to their jobs in September.
“We anticipate seeing the same people in the same positions,” she said.
Maple Ridge Teachers’ Association president George Serra agreed that teacher layoffs must be handled by seniority, but he does not know of any teachers with Montessori training in the district who are not teaching the method, who would be able to “bump” those with lesser seniority.
Serra said French immersion teachers have commonly received layoff notices in the past, but regain their positions, because of their specialized training.
He expects the layoffs of Montessori and French immersion teachers to be rescinded this week.