By Kathryn Cross
Staff Writer
Despite stressed Costa seniors’ complaints, retired Mira Costa English teacher, Pamela Jenning has been justifiably refraining to writing any letters of recommendation.
Mira Costa teachers are standardly given $325 for writing any number of letters of recommendation. However, after a Costa teacher, like Jenning retires, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District cannot legally pay the employee for 180 days after their retirement. Jenning’s retirement began at the end of the last school year, but within less than 180 days, 32 students asked Jenning for a letter of recommendation. Although MBUSD wants to pay the dividend owed to Jenning, the district is limited by state laws.
Senior Ryan Fiene was one of Jenning’s Honors English students last year. To him, Jenning was the first English teacher that had ever taught him how to analyze literature, come to class and discuss it, and be excited about the discussion. Jenning has been recognized as an outstanding teacher and as a measure of gratitude, she should be given the extra bonus in exchange for her time.
According to Costa teacher and MBUTA President, Shawn Chen, Jenning is not writing the letters because MBUSD should respect MCHS teachers and compensate them for their time. The financial benefits are not a value to Jenning at all. With as much work as MBUSD teachers put in during the school year, teachers should be given this payment for the extensive time that it takes to write the letters.
Because Mira Costa has not faced this issue before, it is even more important that Jenning pursues the district letter-of-recommendation policy. Jenning will be able to set an example for what should be done in the future with other retired Mira Costa teachers.
Jenning has suggested that she would write the letters if the $325 were given to the National Honors Society and used as a scholarship this year. Matthews, the school board, and Chen all agree that it is a great solution, but it has not been carried out yet. In response to the issue, Jenning’s students, especially those facing early decision deadlines, have become frustrated with the situation’s slow progress. While their frustration is understandable, the issue will be solved by September 17 at the latest and Jenning should get the compensation that she deserves.
Even though Jenning’s solution is a rewarding one for all, Matthews and the district needs to make sure that NHS is contacted and the district approves the transaction. Letter of recommendation due dates are approaching and the district has already waited too long to solve the problem.
It was Jenning’s decision to ask for the $325 payment, but it was the district’s sluggish pace that has cut so close to college application deadlines and led to an issue.
The consistent excellence of Jenning as a teacher, mentor, and friend gives her the right to set a financial precedent within the school board. Nonetheless, MBUSD should have dealt with this bureaucratic problem before college applicants had to deal with it themselves.
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