Of the more than 400 teachers in the Morgan Hill Unified School District, 28 of them have received so-called "pink slips" as the district prepares to deal with a projected $3 million deficit for the 2008-09 school year.
According to Assistant Superintendent Jay Totter, who heads the district's human resources department, the notices were hand delivered March 14, fulfilling the contractual requirement that certificated employees be notified of a possible layoff before March 15.
"We wanted to deliver the notices in person to be able to explain the process, to give them an opportunity to ask questions," he said. "We wanted to let them know that we care about them, their situation."
Districts throughout are handing out layoff notices in response to the state budget crisis, the governor's proposed plan to cut $4.8 billion from education funding, and his call to suspend Proposition 98, the voter-approved minimum funding guarantee.
More than 20,000 education employees in the state have received notices, according to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.
"School districts up and down this state are sending out pink slips to tens of thousands of hard-working, dedicated teachers, administrators, and school staff, not because our state faces a spending problem, but because we face a priorities problem," he said. "Over the past five years, California schools have been making steady gains in student achievement thanks to our high standards, effective reforms, and the dedication and passion of these same educators. Today this progress and the future of our students are in grave jeopardy."
Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers President Donna Foster has told MHUSD Board of Education trustees during several meetings that she hoped the union could work cooperatively with district officials to create the budget for next year.
A budget committee was formed, Totter said, and has been meeting to identify where the district's budget can be trimmed.
"The district and the federation are working together," he said. "It's important to keep in mind the notices issued are precautionary. By ed code, we have to have a budget ready by June 30, but we likely won't have the state budget until October. The budget committee is just finalizing its recommendations ... Right now, we're doing the best we can given the circumstances. We really don't want to lose these people."
District trustees have passed a resolution encouraging state lawmakers to find other ways to balance the budget without slashing education funding. Foster said union members are also advocating alternatives. She also told trustees the community needs to be clear about what this means for students.
"Five years ago when I took on this job, it was devastating and disheartening, both for the community and for education, for our kids," she said, referring to past budget cuts due to cuts in education funding at the state level. "We need to continue to help the community understand what's happening ... We need the public to understand the allocation of resources and that behind every layoff and cutback in programs, there are personal stories."
Classified employees will also receive notices; however they must be notified 45 days before the end of their school year, and given different job descriptions, the notices will be issued at different times. Totter said the district will also work with the Service Employees International Union, which represents the district's classified employees.
O'Connell lamented the need to notice any education employees.
"The Governor's budget fails to invest in our future," he said. "We should be encouraging the best and brightest to join the teaching ranks. We know that effective teachers are the number one element in student success. Sadly, the flood of pink slips being handed out only discourages people from entering the teacher profession."
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covered education and law enforcement for The Times.
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