Ventura Schools May Avoid Teacher Layoffs

The Ventura Unified School District may be able to save the jobs of 28 probationary teachers who had been warned that they could be laid off, district and teachers’ union officials said Tuesday.

The 28 teachers, all in their first or second year of employment, were notified in March that they could be laid off to help offset a projected $3.2-million deficit next school year.

But officials said Tuesday that about 30 tenured teachers have given the district notice that they plan to resign or retire at the end of the school year.

If enough teachers retire or leave the district, the 28 probationary teachers would be able to keep their jobs, officials said.

“It looks like we have enough resignations so far,” said Assistant Supt. Richard Averett. “The 28 jobs may be restored.”

John Gennaro, president of the Ventura Unified Education Assn., said district and union officials are “pretty much in agreement that it looks very positive that the original 28 people who received notices will be on board with us next year. It looks like it won’t be necessary to lay them off.”

The school board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss the possible restoration of the jobs. However, no decision was announced when they emerged from the meeting.

In March, in addition to sending notices to the 28 probationary teachers, officials in the 15,000-student district notified 63 administrators, including principals, vice principals and school psychologists, that they could lose their jobs or be reassigned. The district has 670 full- and part-time teachers.

The board must make a decision on sending out final notices of termination by next Wednesday, the deadline under state law for local districts to notify teachers and administrators if they will be laid off next school year.

The Ventura district, along with districts across the county and the state, is braced for cuts in funding from the state and is examining cuts and possible layoffs to balance its $57-million budget for the 1991-92 school year.

In addition to layoffs and demotions, district officials have discussed 4% to 8% salary cuts for all employees, including administrators, next school year.

Salary cuts, as well as any possible increases in class size as a result of cuts to staff, would have to be negotiated with employee unions, district officials said.

Many teachers and other employees wait until near the end of the school year before notifying district officials that they plan to resign or retire, officials said.

Last year, nearly 90 teachers retired or left the district.