IRVINE : Budget Cutters Look at Temporary Teachers

The jobs of the Irvine Unified School District’s 930 permanent teachers appear to be safe under the latest budget-cutting plan to be scrutinized by school board members Tuesday night.

But in preparation for a worst-case scenario of cutting $3 million from next school year’s $100-million budget, trustees will vote on sending layoff notices to all 120 temporary teachers in the district and 30 administrators. Temporary teachers, hired by the district on a year-to-year basis, would be “bumped” from their jobs as laid-off administrators return to teaching positions.

Officials were quick to emphasize that the layoff notices represent potential, not actual, job cuts.

“Between now and the end of May, we will begin to redefine the size of the problem,” said acting Supt. Dean Waldfogel.

The school board wants to delay final action on budget cuts until after a county bankruptcy reimbursement plan is approved. Irvine Unified faces a potential $10.7-million loss from the county investment pool.

The biggest problem facing the 21,700-student school district is a looming $54.5-million bond payment due June 13, officials said. School district officials are looking for potential outside lenders in case the county fails to release district funds in time. Some trustees have talked with Irvine Ranch Water District officials about a last-resort loan.

“We would try to step in and keep them from going bankrupt,” said water district President Peer Swan. “To have this school system go bankrupt is not appropriate.”