School budget crisis compels district to send out pink slips
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Eight employees in the Moorpark Unified School District were among more than 20,000 teachers, school counselors and support staff throughout California who received layoff notices on March 15.

School districts are compelled to reduce staffing because of the state budget crisis, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said.

The move was prompted by the governor's proposed plan to cut $4.8 billion from education funding and his call to suspend Proposition 98, the voterapproved, minimum school funding guarantee, O'Connell said.

The local layoff notices were sent to school psychologists, counselors and site administrators (assistant principals or program coordinators), said Teresa Williams, Moorpark assistant superintendent of personnel.

The early pink slip deadline is mandated for certificated employees. Tenured teachers with of at least three years in the Moorpark schools will not be laid off this year, but district leaders anticipate they may have to reduce the numbers of temporary teachers who are hired on a year-to-year basis, Williams said. The temporaries don't have to be notified as quickly, she said.

"We haven't determined how many of the 30 or so temporary teachers will get notices at this time; it depends on the need," she said.

In addition to state budget problems, school districts also face fiscal challenges caused by declining enrollment. When fewer students attend school, public schools receive less money from the state. The funding is based on daily attendance averages.

Over the past five years, California schools made steady gains in student achievement because of high standards, effective reforms, and the dedication and passion of the educators, O'Connell said. But the future of California's students has been placed in jeopardy because of the recent fiscal problems, he said.

"The governor's budget fails to invest in our future," O'Connell said. Effective teachers are the number one element in student success, and the flood of pink slips being handed out only discourages people from entering the teaching profession, he said.

The cuts to public education impact the morale of education professionals, increase class sizes and leave schools with fewer resources at a time when they need them most, O'Connell said.