Grossmont HS District Rescinds 47 Layoffs, Including 23 Teachers

Forty-seven teachers and staff members of the Grossmont Union High School District who got layoff notices this spring can breathe easier now.  They will keep their jobs.

In an announcement Friday morning, schools Superintendent Ralf Swenson said Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget plan makes it possible to rescind layoff notices to 23 teachers in the district and 24 classified staff employees.

“We were all relieved that the proposed cuts to public education funding were not as severe as predicted,” Swenson said in the announcement (shown below).

He also shared good news on the length of the school year. It won’t be shortened.

“In keeping students and their education at the forefront, I am proposing that we return to a 180 instructional day calendar for the 2011-2012 school year, withdrawing the district’s proposal for five furlough days for all employees in
2011-2012,” he said.

News isn’t as good in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, where 113 teachers were to have received layoff notices.

According to Brian Marshall, superintendent of the K-8 district: “While the governor’s May Revise has good news for schools, we will not be rescinding any notices based on a proposal.  ... [But] we are rescinding some notices to replace teachers who are retiring and taking a leave of absence for the 2011-12 school year.”

Marshall said Thursday that decisions on which teachers and schools will be affected are “still in flux.”

“It is further complicated by the number of staff changes at every school,” he said.  “As we move sixth grade to the elementary and as we fill holes left by layoff, all sites are experiencing significant staffing changes.   The dust should settle after the end of the current year (June 10).”

Helix Charter High School is not affected by the Grossmont district layoffs, but its nine noncharter schools like Grossmont, West Hills, Santana, Mount Miguel and Monte Vista are still subject to faculty and staff layoffs.

In March, the school board voted to issue at least 60 layoff notices to teachers, and in April the board voted to lay off 41 of the district’s 1,000 classified employees, which includes secretaries, office assistants, custodians, guidance information specialists and athletic equipment attendants.

Swenson, in his first year as schools chief of the East County district, added: “Based on further retirements and resignations, there may be additional ‘laid off’ employees re-employed next year.”

School district employees were informed Thursday of the layoff rescissions, according to district spokeswoman Catherine Martin, and many classified staffers  would be enjoying their annual picnic today (Friday) at Harry Griffen Park on the El Cajon/La Mesa border near Grossmont High School.

Here is the text of Swenson’s budget announcement:

As you are aware, the state of California has been struggling to find a solution to a $25 billion deficit, which is the worst deficit of any state in the country. In January, the new governor proposed covering half of the budget deficit with cuts.

For the other half of the deficit, he proposed extending taxes which were otherwise set to expire at the end of the fiscal year, with a ballot measure in June. The governor did not secure sufficient support from the legislature to put a tax extension on the ballot in June.

Our district is required by law to submit a balanced budget by June, which is contingent on state funding. Because the state budget was not settled, we had to take drastic steps to address the deficit. These steps included initiating severe budget cuts, which included issuing layoff notices to many GUHSD employees.

The “May Revise” is a point in time for the governor to update his January proposal for the 2011-12 budget. Given that public education is 40% of the total state budget, many predicted that the governor’s “May Revise” would further negatively impact public education.

We were all relieved that the proposed cuts to public education funding were not as severe as predicted.

Based on the proposed state budget, which keeps public education fairly neutral, I am recommending that we take steps to roll back some of the sacrifices our GUHSD community has made. During the 2010-2011 school year, many sacrifices were made, which included a shortened school year and five furlough days.

In keeping students and their education at the forefront, I am proposing that we return to a 180 instructional day calendar for the 2011-2012 school year, withdrawing the district’s proposal for five furlough days for all employees in
2011 -2012. Additionally, I propose rescinding as many layoff notices as possible.

I am able to make this recommendation based on current retirements and resignations and additional budgetary actions which will be made. As a result of these actions, retirements and resignations, I am recommending that 23  of the 36 teachers originally noticed have their layoff notices rescinded immediately.

In addition, due to retirements and resignations among our classified employees, 24 of the 41 classified employees identified for layoff will have a position in the district, and therefore not be laid off.

While the intent of the “May Revise” is positive for education, we need to remain cautious in our optimism regarding the final State budget and its impact on public education. The state deficit still exists and currently there is no agreement to extend expiring taxes. Therefore we are balancing our responsibilities to students and employees with ensuring a balanced district budget. The goal of the district and our board is that as additional retirements an resignations are received, additional layoff notices be rescinded.

In summary:

•  We will have 180 instructional days for the 2011–12 school year.
•  There will be no furlough days for the 2011-12 school year.
•  47 employees who received layoff notices will be employed next year.
•  Based on further retirements and resignations, there may be additional “laid off” employees re-employed next year.
• We remain cautious regarding the final budget.

I am sympathetic to the anxiety and stress the state’s deficit has created throughout our GUHSD community. I deeply appreciate your dedication, professionalism and focus on our students even in these troubled times. I will continue to communicate with you as developments unfold.