Editor, Ceres Courier,

Walt Hanline, superintendent of Denair (Unified School District) wastes taxpayer money trying to prove that his illegal actions are legal. As Ceres (Unified) superintendent, (Hanline) insisted administrators had the right to change students' grades, during the summer, without permission from teachers who taught the classes. Superior Court Judge Mayhew's ruling forced the district to rescind its policy and reverse the grades of Central Valley High School students. The court battle was costly. Hanline persuaded the Ceres Board that teachers had to take an 8.5 percent cut. After he left Ceres, it was revealed that 5 percent would have sufficed.

On Aug. 12, Denair's Board listened to Hanline and voted to act against Judge Engeman's ruling that the district's August lay-off was illegal. Denair's teachers will pursue their insistence that layoffs be done legally. Hanline's direction has and will result in huge legal costs at the same time he asks district employees to take an 11 percent pay cut.

Has anyone inquired if Hanline will be taking 11 percent from his gross yearly earnings, donating them to Denair? Will Hanline leave the district with his full pay and perquisites, leaving behind demoralized teachers losing a ninth of their pay?

Cheryl Brewer,
Ceres Unified Teachers Association President