Amador County – The Amador County Unified School District board of trustees on Wednesday voted 3-2 against issuing notifications to seven teachers of potential layoffs for next school year, but will be asked in a special meeting today to consider approving notifications for 11 potential teacher layoffs.

Trustees Pat Miller, Rose Oneto and Lynett Lipp voted in the majority to reject the issuance notifications for the potential layoffs of the equivalent of seven certificated teachers, including full time equivalents of one agriculture teaching position, two “opportunity teachers,” two “intervention teachers,” and two elementary teachers.

In public comment, a parent, Noelle Richmond, urged trustees to keep the agriculture program intact. She said the two high schools have more Future Farmers of America involvement than she has seen in 15 years, and the schools have two full-time ag teachers between them. She invited the board to attend an FFA fundraising dinner to support the ag department March 26 at Evalyn Bishop Hall.

School Superintendent Dick Glock said the notices are a “precautionary measure” that must be approved by March 15, in order to be able to make layoffs if needed. Layoffs must be finalized by May 15.

Nina Neville, executive director of personnel, recommended the seven layoffs, saying “unfortunately, this is the route most of California has to go by.”

Glock said the district has 505 employees, of which 260 are classified, and 245 are certificated.

Oneto said: “I’m all for the ag department,” because that is what the high schools are all about. Miller said: “I think it’s a program we need to keep intact for students,” and he was personally opposed to laying off one full-time equivalent ag teacher.

Trustee Mary Walser and Chairman Wally Upper voted for the notifications.

Glock said it was pointed out that the number of notifications was “not nearly as many as last year.” He said “by noticing someone this evening, it does not lay someone off.”

He said last year, they brought back most of the employees who received notices, when there was “one out of 66 that was not brought back.” He said “they could all be here and more” next year, depending on funding and enrolment.

After rejecting the resolution, they approved notifications for potential layoffs for four temporary certificated employees who work 2.83 full time equivalent positions.

The School Board on Thursday announced a special meeting at 2 p.m. today (Friday, March 11) to consider notifications for layoffs for 11 certificated employees. A closed session is at 1 p.m.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.