Please save Mike the crossing guard, the library clerks, yard duty staff, in-class teaching aides, secretaries and other critical school employees!
 
Hello parents and former students. We are sending this email in the hope that you will sign this petition and help support district classified staff at the next Larkspur Corte Madera Schools board meeting. We completely understand that the board has a very difficult task at hand making cuts to their budget while the schools are being faced with a huge potential reductions in critical jobs in our district. Whether you have kids currently in the district, or you’ve had kids in the district in the past, or you are a former student yourself, we know how much the classified personnel have helped all of you, and we need you to explain to the board how important and indispensable those jobs are. We hope you will all come together by signing this petition and show up to support them at the board meeting Wednesday, March 6th at 6:00pm in the Hall Middle School library.
 
As Neil Cummins School Secretary Nathelle Belloni stated in a recent letter, responding to an IJ article about proposed staff cuts, “Classified staff makes a difference in a student’s life throughout the day.  From coming to school, crossing the street, coming onto campus, entering their classrooms, going to the playground, the students are greeted, helped and consoled by classified staff. Campus support makes the students feel better with ice for their bumps and bruises, words of comfort, tools for disputes, ears for listening not to mention the extra help they receive with their school work in class. Our health liaison is vital.  How many times have you gotten a call from the nurse's office saying your student was ill, hit their head, had an accident?  The office is busy, the health office provides support and care for your student. Our libraries are a very busy space.  They are open most of the day, even during lunch for students, which is a haven for many. How can a school run without paras who help and assist our special Ed students in all aspects of their school day?  The district cannot have special need students if they do not have para professionals.”
 
March 6th will be the night that the Board votes on whether it will reduce the Campus Support, Teacher Aide, Crossing Guard, and other important positions in our district. This includes Mike, the Crossing Guard at Neil Cummins for the last 25 years. Most kids started and ended their days with a smile and a greeting/bonk/fist bump from Mike.  It was the highlight of the day for many of them.  He made each and every child feel welcome and loved.  It is absolutely unconscionable that we would let him go when he has given so much to our community.  It is our time to hold him up, honor him, and help him keep his beloved job.  
 
If we get a huge contingent of parents voicing support for classified staff through this petition and at the Board meeting, it will hopefully inform the board to vote on reductions in other areas (such as Professional Development, TOSA-which is the Teacher on Special Assignment teaching robotics and engineering, and the extra 7th period at Hall- adding a second elective), rather than reductions in these necessary and critical positions. Our kids did incredibly well without that additional elective in the past, but would have had a much less favorable experience without these providers.  These classified staff are there for our children, who rely heavily on them every single day. Please help to support us by signing this document and attending the meeting on March 6th at 6pm in the Hall Middle School Library.
 
Thank you and to the board for your time and consideration.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Current and former parents and former students of Neil Cummins, the Cove and Hall Middle schools.