To help bridge a $4.1 million budget gap, Castaic Union School District officials approved 45.4 layoff notices Monday at a special meeting.

The total figure, which includes classified employees, teachers and part-time staffers, is actually lower than initially budgeted, officials said, and board members are hoping by the end of the year, more of the pink slips will be rescinded.

“We’re hoping as the district finalizes the calculations, that we can rescind some more,” said board President Steve Teeman, adding district staff is working hard with teachers union representative to keep the impact from the classroom as much as possible.

The staff reductions are expected to impact student:teacher ratios, but exactly how is not definite yet because of ongoing discussion.

Estimates for the number of students per could be anywhere from 28-30 children, but it’s also something staff is still working on, Teeman said, noting the state is asking every school to reduce its ratio to 24:1.

“We’re trying to see where we maybe have to have mixed classes with grades to balance the loads out,” Teeman said, referring to efforts to reduce classroom sizes that are being considered.

During the meeting, board members also officially named Janene Maxon interim superintendent.

“(Maxon) has been a longtime member of our district staff, and it’s a great comfort to all of us that Janene is able to step up and take care of what needs to be done,” said board member Susan Christopher. “Everyone appreciates Janene’s leadership.”

Maxon unofficially has been filling the position for a little more than a week, after the board placed former Superintendent Jim Gibson on “paid nondisciplinary administrative leave.”

Teeman said the board would discuss the matter further at its next board meeting, May 19.

From a previous story on Castaic Union School District layoffs:

The Castaic Union School District realized a $4.1 million shortfall in its budget for the coming year recently, prompting a series of community meetings and alarm from parents, as service reductions were announced.

Castaic Schools Announce Layoffs, More Cuts To Come

School officials are cutting $4.1 million from the operating budget through: layoffs for 30 teachers throughout the district ($2.36 million); a reduction in classified staff, the equivalent of 13 full-time positions ($417,000); reductions in administrative staff expected to save more than $340,000; $50,000 in reduced transportation services; and the aforementioned reduction of $300,000 in services each year.

The district also decided to move its sixth-grade classrooms to the elementary school, from the middle school, which is expected to save a little more than $230,000.

“The significant factors contributing to the District’s financial condition: 1) consecutive recessionary years without sufficient offsetting budget reductions for expenditures, 2) internal and external borrowings that mask the significance of cash flow shortages, and 3) declining local enrollment of students.

The district had been using short-term borrowing from inter-fund reserves and external sources, which contributed to the budget problem, according to auditors.