The Wm. S. Hart Union High School District is in the process of notifying 62 teachers that the district is rescinding their layoff notices. The district sent notices to more than certificated employees in March, notifying them that their jobs could be affected by a possible “reduction in force.” At this time, 36 employees remain on the layoff list.
[view:node_ad=5]“The Hart District recognizes that this has been a difficult process for everyone involved, and I want to reiterate that the decision to implement the layoff was one the district took seriously,” Assistant Superintendent Rochelle Neal told staff members. “We are continuing to review the layoff process and will keep everyone updated if it is possible to rescind additional layoff notices.”
The district was required by law to send out notices of potential layoff to all affected certificated staff by March 15. Since that date, the district has continued to review and analyze a variety of factors, including the district’s budget for the upcoming school years as well as the number of resignations and retirements it has received.
{mosimage}An early retirement incentive offered by the district has resulted in a number of open positions as senior staff members retire, allowing teachers with less seniority to fill those positions. The district is required by law to issue final layoff notices by May 15. However, even those layoffs could be rescinded if openings materialize after the May 15 date.
The district continues to keep a wary eye on the items on the May 19 ballot which impact the state budget, and hence the district’s funding source. The district could face an additional budgetary shortfall if state income is below projections for the current year and the state cuts funding it has already allocated for the 2008-09 school year. The district will receive those figures in the “May revise,” which is due from the state in early June.
The district’s Governing Board has directed staff to look at all possible means to meet the budget crisis, protecting as many jobs as possible while maintaining the quality of the educational program.