For the last few years, the state of California has been forced to make what they call “necessary sacrifices,” according to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to various programs in order to stay on top of its financial situation. One of the primary victims of these financial shortfalls is education.

Almost 20,000 pink slips were sent out to public school teachers, librarians, principals and other staff members around California in March of 2012. Of those, approximately 11,000 belonged to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) employees.  

Two of those 11,000 belong to faculty members at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS), which, with 13 teachers, is among the smallest high schools in the district. 

For the second year in a row, Magnet Coordinator Laverne Potter has received her Reduction in Force (RIF) notice. A faculty member receives a RIF notice when their position is at risk of being cut.  Last year, Ms. Potter received a RIF notice because the position as Magnet Coordinator in all LAUSD schools was being cut. 

Initially she was scheduled to leave DPMHS but over summer break her position was saved due to last minute funding. Now, once again, she is at risk of being unemployed.

“Last year both me and my position were cut,” Potter said. “This year it’s just me so as far as a Plan B...early retirement.”

All magnet coordinator positions are at risk, however, and without Potter, the school would be left with no magnet coordinator at all. 

“I feel that losing Ms. Potter would be a shame,” said freshman Jordan Timsit. “I think that we need someone with authority and she does her job extremely well.”

The other faculty member at risk of losing her position is school librarian Tamara Celi. 

This is Celi’s first year as DPMHS school librarian and she has taken her job seriously. In the 10 months that she has worked at DPMHS, there have been two major book fairs, four reading contests, and one essay competition.

“Whenever I need a book to read or I just want to finish some work I know I can always go to the library and get what I need,” senior Eman Rachid said.

California legislators have found that making these statewide cuts could save over $13 million and reduce California’s budget deficit by almost $200 million.

"Every pink slip being issued today is an unwelcome and undeserved blow to the morale of the teacher who receives it," wrote Tom Torlakson, the state superintendent of Public Instruction, in a statement addressing the pink slips. "They should also remind all of us of the urgency of finding the will and the resources to end the financial emergency facing our public schools."

These RIF notices are only warnings and not final. When a teacher, administrator or even a school librarian receives a RIF notice it is simply a precursor as to what may happen. They don’t know if their positions are saved until June when the district knows how much money it will be receiving from the state.

Two  years ago, over eight thousand pink slips were sent out but due to a larger than expected “bailout”, only about two thousand teachers lost their jobs. It is possible, and very likely, that there will be a huge difference in the amount of RIF notices sent compared to teachers actually laid off again but still every recipient has to be on the edge of their seats. 

“I knew that it was pretty inevitable that most Teacher Librarians would be getting pink slips, with this being the third year of the “waiting game” as to whether or not the district will fund high school libraries,” Celi said.