Merced City School District cuts back on workers

The Merced City School District conducted another round of layoffs Tuesday night because of budget cuts.

School board members voted 5-0 to lay off or reduce the hours of seven classified employees; however, Assistant Superintendent Greg Spicer said he was optimistic those positions will be brought back next year because a number of classified employees will retire this year.

Classified employees must receive their pink slips 45 days before the effective date of their layoff. Teachers must be notified of their layoffs before March 15.

The employees affected by cuts were mostly people working with students classified as English Language Learners.

The positions cut were two community liaisons, one for Spanish speakers and the other for the Hmong community; four instructional assistants, one general position, one for Hmong speakers, one for Spanish speakers and another for special education students; and one maintenance technician, according to the district's resolution.

The maintenance technician retired this year and the district decided not to refill the position, so no actual job was lost.

School board member Susan Walsh said that despite the district's shrinking budget, board members are doing their best to protect students and jobs.

The school district is in its second year of belt tightening that has resulted in layoffs.

At an April 13 school board meeting, the school district finalized layoffs for its teaching staff.

Fourteen certificated positions were cut this school year.

Last year, the district cut 25 full-time teaching positions, four administrative positions, 5.5 classified employee positions, funding for Camp Green Meadows and a change in class-size reduction programs to add more students to each classroom.

Spicer said he thinks next school year the outlook will be even bleaker.

This year the school district had American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money as well as state stabilization funds, Spicer said. Next school year, those won't be there.

Spicer said he feared more layoffs next year for teaching positions. He said he was hopeful that some teachers may retire next year, thus reducing the need for more layoffs.

The school district would look into offering an early retirement incentive, he added.

Reporter Jamie Oppenheim can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or joppenheim@mercedsun-star.com.