Lodi Unified School District trustees approve layoff of 390 teachers
More cuts expected in April
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Lodi Unified will issue 390 teacher layoff notices and cut seven additional positions from the administration office following a board decision made early Wednesday.
Trustees voted 6-1, with Harvey Bills dissenting.
"There's been a cry that we need to do more in the administration office," board president Richard Jones said. "In the public comments, they said we should do more, so we listened."
The vote wasn't taken until well after midnight and five hours after the meeting started.
"In the long run, it was better to hear everyone," Jones said.
The meeting took place in McNair High School's theater, which accommodates 720.
Trustees are expected to vote on cutting 110 other positions at a meeting in April to continue to close the $25 million budget gap for the 2009-10 school year. The district currently employs 3,100 and is one of the area's largest employers.
"It's all devastating," Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer said of the cuts, which she blames on the state Legislature's inability to pass a budget. "It's destruction, it's hard to even express the words. It's heart breaking. It goes against everything we even believe in. It's hurting so many, so deep, but I'm not going to give up hope."
Sue Kenmotsu, president of the Lodi Education Association, said Wednesday she was happy to see that the board listened to the speakers who called for further cuts in administration. Trustees discussed eliminating other similar positions, including the principal of Elkhorn School, but it wasn't included in the final vote.
The actual action taken at the meeting was to eliminate services delivered by certificated staff.
"That means when a service is eliminated or reduced, it will reduce staff," Nichols-Washer said.
The board is legally required to notify employees of potential layoffs on March 15 with final notices issued May 15. After that, the board can rescind any layoff notices, including the 45 positions approved by the board last month.
Classified employees must be notified 45 days before being laid off, so that resolution will go before the board April 7, Nichols-Washer said.
The district is suffering from a drop in interest income and local developer fees, as well as a historic decline in enrollment.
Districts receive per-pupil funding, and as of last month, Lodi Unified had 810 fewer students than last school year and expects that number to increase heading into next school year. Most of those students are from elementary schools in north Stockton.
Meanwhile, Nichols-Washer said the district will continue pursuing suggestions from the public and her Budget Advisory Committee will continue to meet to formulate reduction recommendations to take before the school board. About 80 percent of the district's budget goes toward personnel.
Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.
Labels: layoffs, Lodi Unified School District, teachers
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