SPFT Vice President Carolyn Ishida said she’s never seen teacher morale so low. “It’s stretching the guidelines of professionalism,” she said. “We’ve had no supplies all year. Teachers have had to pay themselves for the curriculum that they’ve asked us to use in terms of the science program and then they turn around and try to reduce our staff by 25 percent. It literally has crushed everyone. They’re shaking their heads like what did we do? We were professional. We worked with the district. We put up with severe working conditions. We’ve bought our own supplies to the tune of $1200 per teacher. It truly is a slap in the face by the district and they’re demoralized.”Bennett and Ishida said they were completely caught by surprise at the action by the district. Ishida noted that the union leadership has communicated with the superintendent on a monthly basis. “We asked them, are there going to be any layoff notices?” Ishida said. “We were given the impression that there would not until Friday, the day of the Job Fair, that they sent out 59 notices and we received a phone call. I was told by a new teacher that, at the Job Fair they were taking applications from teachers the same day.”Ed lacey, the Ventura attorney retained to represent the teachers at the hearing said the hearing is run like a miniature trial. Attorneys for both sides will present their cases and witnesses to support their positions. “What we’re hoping we can do is persuade the administrative law judge to recommend to the district that this severe an action is not required, is not supported by the facts,” Lacey said. Whatever recommendation the judge makes is not binding on the district.