Chaffey avoids layoffs
ONTARIO - The Chaffey Joint Union High School District will not issue preliminary layoff notices in March to teachers as well as other certificated employees.
Superintendent Mat Holton attributed the lack of pink slips to pro-active leadership from union associations as well as prudent action taken by the district's board of trustees.
Chaffey Joint Union in the past two years has enacted significant cuts, including a reduction in positions among all employee groups, Holton said.
The district slashed about $12 million from its budget and eliminated 156 positions in 2010 and made about $14 million budget cuts and eliminated 111 positions in 2009, Holton said.
Superintendent Mat Holton attributed the lack of pink slips to pro-active leadership from union associations as well as prudent action taken by the district's board of trustees.
Chaffey Joint Union in the past two years has enacted significant cuts, including a reduction in positions among all employee groups, Holton said.
The district slashed about $12 million from its budget and eliminated 156 positions in 2010 and made about $14 million budget cuts and eliminated 111 positions in 2009, Holton said.
"Overall, we have reduced positions by 11 percent in classified, 9 percent in certificated and 11 percent in administration," he said.
Holton said it is important that staffers understand that the district is not "out of the woods" as uncertainties will continue to exist that may impact the district.
"By taking those carefully calculated cuts when we did, rather than delay, we were able to realize compounded savings," he said. "This means that as a result of those cost savings, and, as it stands right now, we will be able to address the worst of the two (budget) scenarios and protect our current employees."
The uncertainty surrounding the state budget will leave Chaffey Joint Union officials considering two potential scenarios.
Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to close a $25 billion budget gap without cutting K-12 schools depends on voters approving a five-year extension to temporary taxes in a special election.
"Based on our analysis, along with direction from the (San Bernardino) County Office of Education, if budgetary scenario No. 1 occurs - the voters support his extension of current taxes - it would still represent a hit to the district of approximately $520,000 annually," Holton said.
The impact on the district could be greater if the Legislature does not agree to put the tax extensions on a special election ballot or if it is rejected by voters.
"If budgetary scenario No. 2 occurs, the district would lose an additional $8 million annually," Holton said.
If Brown's tax proposal is not approved, the district could face increased costs in utilities, fuel and insurance premiums as well as those associated with employee raises, Holton said.
"Furthermore, there is no guarantee that if scenario No. 1 were to fail that the Legislature won't reduce K-12 funding more severely than what has been defined in the governor's scenario No. 2 - if this were to occur, it would require the district to take additional cuts proportional to the potential hit," he said.
"However, at this time, the associations agree with the district that we will adjust our budget to the worst case scenario - scenario No. 2. This is consistent with the governor's proposal and the budgetary guidelines provided to districts by the San Bernardino County Office of Education."
State Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, said Senate Republicans have no interest in providing votes to put Brown's proposed tax increase extensions before voters.
"No, I'm not interested in providing any votes," Dutton said. "I have explained to my members that if they have any intentions of wanting to cut any side deal, I prefer they do it sooner rather than later, and that I would appreciate if they let me know up front ... Nobody has approached me and said they're willing to go in that direction."
For now, Chaffey Joint Union officials don't have to worry about sending out layoff notices.
Districts have until March 15 to send out preliminary layoff notices informing teachers, counselors, nurses and other certificated personnel that they may not have a job at the end of the 2011-12 school year.
Chaffey Joint Union has more than 25,000 students and schools in Ontario, Montclair and Rancho Cucamonga.
The Sacramento Bee contributed to this report.
Holton said it is important that staffers understand that the district is not "out of the woods" as uncertainties will continue to exist that may impact the district.
"By taking those carefully calculated cuts when we did, rather than delay, we were able to realize compounded savings," he said. "This means that as a result of those cost savings, and, as it stands right now, we will be able to address the worst of the two (budget) scenarios and protect our current employees."
The uncertainty surrounding the state budget will leave Chaffey Joint Union officials considering two potential scenarios.
Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to close a $25 billion budget gap without cutting K-12 schools depends on voters approving a five-year extension to temporary taxes in a special election.
"Based on our analysis, along with direction from the (San Bernardino) County Office of Education, if budgetary scenario No. 1 occurs - the voters support his extension of current taxes - it would still represent a hit to the district of approximately $520,000 annually," Holton said.
The impact on the district could be greater if the Legislature does not agree to put the tax extensions on a special election ballot or if it is rejected by voters.
"If budgetary scenario No. 2 occurs, the district would lose an additional $8 million annually," Holton said.
If Brown's tax proposal is not approved, the district could face increased costs in utilities, fuel and insurance premiums as well as those associated with employee raises, Holton said.
"Furthermore, there is no guarantee that if scenario No. 1 were to fail that the Legislature won't reduce K-12 funding more severely than what has been defined in the governor's scenario No. 2 - if this were to occur, it would require the district to take additional cuts proportional to the potential hit," he said.
"However, at this time, the associations agree with the district that we will adjust our budget to the worst case scenario - scenario No. 2. This is consistent with the governor's proposal and the budgetary guidelines provided to districts by the San Bernardino County Office of Education."
State Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, said Senate Republicans have no interest in providing votes to put Brown's proposed tax increase extensions before voters.
"No, I'm not interested in providing any votes," Dutton said. "I have explained to my members that if they have any intentions of wanting to cut any side deal, I prefer they do it sooner rather than later, and that I would appreciate if they let me know up front ... Nobody has approached me and said they're willing to go in that direction."
For now, Chaffey Joint Union officials don't have to worry about sending out layoff notices.
Districts have until March 15 to send out preliminary layoff notices informing teachers, counselors, nurses and other certificated personnel that they may not have a job at the end of the 2011-12 school year.
Chaffey Joint Union has more than 25,000 students and schools in Ontario, Montclair and Rancho Cucamonga.
The Sacramento Bee contributed to this report.
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