School District Repeals Teacher Layoff Notices

The Board of Education voted Tuesday night to repeal the 13 reduction in force notices issued in March.

By law, the district was required to notify employees of the potential of being let go if reduced funds due to did not permit their employment to continue, but layoffs will now not be occurring.

The helped bring in funds to relieve the layoffs, as did money from the , which asks for a parent donation of $2000 per child, funds from SMUSD savings, and recent concessions made by the San Marino Teachers Association, according to SMUSD Superintendent Gary Woods.

SMUSD entered into an agreement with the San Marino Teachers Association that involves a decrease in work days and pay. The agreement includes changes such as:

• Option for certificated employees to opt out of major medical coverage in exchange for $3600 during open enrollment
• Three furlough days (days off without pay)
• Reduction of school year from 180 days to 178
• Reduction of the substitute pay rate
• Possibility of a full-day kindergarten program

Principal Liz Hollingsworth and Principal Colleen Shields presented at Tuesday’s board meeting the pros and cons of a full day kindergarten program, as well as what would be necessary if a full day program were implemented. The presentation was a result of meetings with parents and others on a committee formed for the purpose of examining the possible program.

The San Marino Board of Education decided at Tuesday night’s meeting that the possible implementation of a full day kindergarten program beared further study and advised Hollingsworth and Shields to explore in more detail over the next few months the pros, cons and necessities of the program. Woods recommended that the board make a decision about full day kindergarten program implementation in October or November so they can plan for the fall 2012 semester.

A , a combination of eight teachers possibly being laid off and certain class periods being cut. A twelfth vacant teaching position was proposed to be left unfilled. SMUSD Superintendent Gary Woods said the thirteenth notice of class or employee reduction could have been the result of various things, including a tie-breaker between teachers with equal seniority.

After massive layoffs threatened the SMUSD last year, teachers that would have lost their jobs were kept as a result of the Refuse to Lose campaign, but the District said this year that Refuse to Lose was a one-time campaign.