SPESD trustees approve layoffs and reduction in hours
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula News
Published: March 12, 2010
Trustees of the Santa Paula Elementary School District voted Tuesday night to do away with a number of Classified positions, in an effort to balance the budget.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Moffett started off the meeting saying that budget cuts affect everyone in the district.
“As we work at reducing our budget deficit, it does mean that tensions will rise throughout the district,” he said. “People’s positions and livelihood are at stake. In one way or another it will affect everyone throughout our district.”
Moffett added it’s not anyone’s fault at the district office. He said the state is reducing funding for schools. For next year the State is reducing school district budgets by 22.5 percent.
Positions abolished Tuesday include such jobs as Clerical Assistants at three schools and the Educational Support Center, Instructional Assistants at four schools, Data Entry Clerks at all seven schools, two Campus Safety Assistants at Isbell Middle School, and Attendance Assistants at all schools.
People facing reduced work hours include Library Assistants throughout the district and Outreach Consultants at six schools. The actions taken were prior to any School Site Council decision regarding using school funds to increase the hours of those cut.
In addition to the job cuts, the board also approved increased class sizes at some schools in grades K-3, from 20 to 23 students per class and not to exceed 25 students. The board also approved three paid preparation days for teachers at the beginning of the school year. The district has until March 15 to notify certificated personnel of possible layoffs.
The board also heard the district still couldn’t file a positive budget report with the County Schools office. The district previously filed a qualified interim budget report in December. A qualified report means the district might not be able to meet its financial obligations in the 2010-2011 school year or the following year. A third Interim report will be due by June 1. District officials said they could be out of qualified status by the 2011-2012 school year.
A notice was also received of a preliminary hearing to receive input on a resolution from the Santa Paula City Council to form a Santa Paula Unified School District from the existing territory of the Santa Paula Elementary School District, the Santa Paula Union High School District, Mupu Elementary School District, Santa Clara Elementary School District, and the Briggs Elementary School District. The meeting will held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17 at the Santa Paula Community Center.
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