"Most of all, I am a teacher!" - a Seaside teacher.

"Are we fixing the right problem?" - a concerned parent.

"Have you done everything you can to fix the problem? Maybe you are the problem!" - an upset parent to MPUSD superintendent Dr. Marilyn Shepherd.

"Parental input must be part of this (transfer) process. You're punishing successful teachers." - another concerned parent.

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These were just a few of the long line of complaints and comments from students, parents and teachers in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District who voiced their concerns to the school board, district administrators during Monday night's board meeting.

Over 200 people gathered to listen as district administrators Kari Yeater, associate superintendent for program improvement and secondary instruction, and Judy Durand, executive director of human resources, explained staffing changes from schools all over the Peninsula during redistricting efforts.

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Changes upset students and teachers at Monterey High School last Thursday afternoon who left campus in protest of their "top 10" favorite teachers potentially being transferred to Seaside High School and elsewhere.

"Employees work for a school district, not a specific school," said Durand in the back of the room, as people vented their concerns to the school board during public comment.

Durand explains that teachers are being moved around due to the districts needs for credentialed educators at different schools as other teachers retire, resign or get laid off.

According to Yeater and Durand, in the 2010-2011 school year, Monterey High School is being reduced by five full-time employees and a loss of another three to four teachers, partly due to an excess in the math department and a need for certain credentialed teachers elsewhere. There will be nine teacher changes for the next school year. Teachers with a secondary credential can end up in one of eight different sites.

As for Seaside High School, the district is requiring 50% of the instructional staff to be new for the 2010-2011 school year.

"Wherever they are, teachers are going to teach," said Durand.