Ca. Statewide teacher layoffs: It’s 20,000 [View All]

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.auburnjournal.com/detail/79466.html

3/14/08

Nathan Donato-Weinstein

The number of teachers in California who have been issued notices of potential layoffs has hit 20,000, the state’s education chief said Friday.

School districts are required by law to notify teachers and other certificated staff members that they could be laid off by March 15. The recent layoffs – including dozens in Placer County districts – have been spurred by $4.8 billion in cuts to education contained in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s January proposed state budget.

In a statement, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell blamed the layoff notices on a “priorities problem” and decried the governor’s proposed budget for putting student performance “in grave jeopardy.”

“The governor’s budget fails to invest in our future,” O’Connell said in the statement. “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.”

In recent weeks, local school boards have approved reductions in force for the Eureka, Dry Creek, and Lincoln school districts, as they seek to close massive budget holes.

The Eureka Union School District issued intent to layoff notices for about 12 full-time positions, officials said. Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District trustees recently approved about 35 full-time positions. And Lincoln Unified School District did the same for 20.7 full-time positions.

FULL story at link.