By Denise Jennex
As the battle over the State budget intensifies and we wait to see the final outcome for public education, the District has decided to take a cautious approach to next year’s budget. The continuing state budget crisis has caused Burbank and other school districts throughout the state to consider giving reassignment letters or layoff notices to certificated staff. As we go through the next few weeks try to remember that the District is planning cautiously and the final outcome will depend on the state’s budget.
Certificated employees could receive one of the following letters or notices:
1. Reassignment letter: This letter is given to employees who may be reassigned to another position within the school district for the following year or their work year is being shortened.
2. Non-reelect letter: This letter is given to probationary one and two teachers for unsatisfactory performance or for not completing the CLAD requirements.
3. Non-rehire of Temporary letter: This letter is given to all temporary employees as their contracts have an ending date.
4. Layoff Notices: This notice is given to certificated employees for ADA decline, reduction or discontinuance of a particular kind of service, and when an amendment of state law requires a change in curriculum.
Each of these letters or notices is handled differently and it is imperative that you know which if any of these letters or notices you received and act within the timelines specified.
The layoff of certificated employees is governed by the procedures within the Education Code sections 44949, 44955, and 87743. The following is an outline of the layoff procedure:
1. The District must give preliminary layoff notices recommending non-reemployment of permanent and probationary certificated employees on or before March 15, 2003. The resolution regarding these notices will go to the School Board either at their February 20th or March 6th meeting. If the resolution is passed at the February 20th meeting, preliminary notices will be hand delivered or sent by registered mail beginning February 24th. If the resolution goes to the March 6th meeting, notices will be given beginning March 10th.
2. Education Code 44845 defines seniority as Every probationary or permanent employee employed after June 30, 1947, shall be deemed to have been employed on the date upon which he or she first rendered paid service in a probationary position.
3. Once notices have been sent BTA will hold an immediate meeting with all certificated employees receiving the preliminary layoff notices. This will be an important meeting to discuss the entire layoff process, the timeline, and to answer questions. This is a meeting you must not miss, as the first deadline in the layoff process is seven days after receiving the notice.
4. Final layoff notices must be delivered no later than May 15, 2003.
Please know that BTA is carefully monitoring the state budget, its impact on public education and how it will affect the Burbank Unified School District. We will keep you up to date and are here to help all of you through these trying times.