Amador County – Amador County Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved notices for the potential layoffs of 16.33 full time equivalent positions in the next school year, including 15 teachers, and will have until mid-May to finalize the decision.

Superintendent of Schools Dick Glock said “we could squeak by, it is possible,” but the board has to look a year to 18 months down the road, and the potential layoffs of 16.33 full time equivalent certificated employees would be “primarily due to decreased enrollment.” He said the last few years, the district hasn’t really reduced staff and “we do want to improve programs. We have results to show that it works,” with student achievement test scores.

Glock said “we have until May 15 to see if we need to carry through on these,” but he said “it’s not going to be the number you see here that gets a slip.” And on the other hand, if they do not prepare for layoffs, “it puts the whole district at risk. It is unfair that we should have to go through this. The other option would be to move towards insolvency.” He said “this is California education.”

Liz Tone, a Sutter Creek Primary School teacher, and an executive board member of the Amador County Teachers Association, said ACTA strongly opposed layoffs and urged the board not to approve them. Tone said teachers had given concessions of $3.8 million dollars in savings for the school district. She said the district has a $4.25 million dollar reserve, more than 16 percent, and “well above the state recommendation.” She said “we urge the board not to approve this tonight.”

A Jackson Junior High math teacher urged no cut of the middle school math teacher, as listed on a staff recommendation. She said students deserve and are entitled to the program, which has reformed itself.

Ann Rothe, a teacher in the Visually Impaired Program said she saw her program as marked for possible cuts and said: “I would appreciate it if you did not cut this position.”

Glock said he had spoken with Rothe, and since the printing of the agenda, we have had a couple more students enroll in her program. He said “I don’t think we disagree at all with the comments,” although he thought Tim Zearley, Assistant Superintendent of finance might disagree with Tone’s estimate of the reserves.

Zearley said he would have a quarterly report March 28, but “I do not believe we have $4.2 million dollars available at this time.”

Board President Wally Upper said from recent enrollment trends reported last month, “if the district continues to lose 200 students a year for the next decade, the student population will go from 4,000 to 2,000.”

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