We need to refuse the ELTP

[RAVIJIT KHALSA]

Hello Los Alamos School Board Members, 

     My name is Ravijit Khalsa and I am a sophomore at LAHS reaching out to you about the Extended Learning Time Program (ELTP). Although the proposed calendars 5 and 6 could provide some insights into rescheduling our school year, we should refuse this program because it would discourage teachers from coming to Los Alamos, worsening our teacher shortage problem and providing less equity for SPED students. 

    In the status quo, many new teachers are not enticed to join LAPS because the cost of living in Los Alamos is incredibly expensive and teacher's salaries are not enough to pay. By enacting the ELTP, 80 additional teacher hours would be added to the school year for which teachers would only receive partial pay. While the average teacher salary would be slightly increased, it would not balance the amount of work required from teachers. By refusing the ELTP proposal, we would prevent more new teachers from getting discouraged from coming to Los Alamos and we would let national policy makers know that our interests lie in actually bettering our schools rather than just accepting a paycheck.  

    Looking at our current Special Education program, it is almost abhorrent how unfair high-needs students are treated in this county. We barely alot time, money, or teachers to our SPED program, and as a result, many parents don't send their special needs children here because we our facilities fall far below adequacy. If we accept this deal, we would only make this problem worse, as teachers would be even less likely to join our school system, as explained above. The already meager attention we give to this program would be shortened because teachers and staff would spend more time figuring out training, making lesson plans for the extra days, and just trying to make a new system and schedule work. While some more money MIGHT go to special education, it is not guaranteed nor even likely that it will. By refusing the program, we might not immediately fix all of our SPED problems, but we would avoid exacerbating our problems and thus preventing a downgrade in the equality and equity of our special needs students.

      Each year national school policy makers decide on what schools need to focus on and state leaders make programs such as the ELTP. If we refuse this deal, we can democratically show our higher-ups that we need more attention and money on teachers and special needs. We can get what we want AND accept money from the state. I understand this year has been a struggle for everyone and we are desperate for solutions, but the Extended Learning Time Program is simply not the answer. Thank you very much for taking the time to consider my opinion.  

     Sincerely, 

           Ravijit Khalsa 

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