SMMUSD Whittles Layoff Slots Down To About 13
Written by 991KBU on May 14, 2020
Teacher layoffs have been approved by the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District.
But instead of the 46 fulltime equivalent jobs that were pink slipped earlier this winter … about 13 jobs are on the layoff concept approved by the school board Tuesday night.
It was a 4-3 vote.
The Malibu board member … Craig Foster … said he was forced to vote yes.
Said Foster … “This is a bureaucratic moment where we have to vote on something because if we don’t, then we lose our options; we lose our ability to control our budget; we lose our ability to find ways to make this work in a positive way.
“I can’t apologize enough for the process and how it works, and the inhumanity of it.
“It’s not in our hands to change it. It’s part of the laws of the state of California.”
Foster’s quotes were reported by the Santa Monica Daily Press.
Oscar de la Torre, Ralph Mechur and Maria Leon-Vazquez each voted no on Tuesday night.
About 50 teachers have been negotiating with the district … and with an independent administrative law judge … as seniority and other rules determine who exactly would get the ax.
With about 16 jobs still on the line … board members said they are still hoping budgets can be adjusted … other teaching posts may come open … and the laid off teachers will have a teaching job next fall.
