Beaumont Bus Service to Remain, But Furloughs to Affect Many

In an effort to keep the school budget balanced if November ballot measures for more funding fail, the classified employees of Beaumont Unified School District-- along with support staff and administrators-- will all be taking a week's worth of furloughs for the next two years.

The furloughs were part of a tentative agreement that was approved in Tuesday's Beaumont Unified school board meeting.

Those unpaid days off, totaling 14 over the next two school years, will mostly affect members of the California School Employees Association Chapter 351, thanks to a deal they struck with the district to help save jobs.

According to the school board agenda, the majority of the 31 layoffs decided in April for classified employees-- comprised of bus drivers, aids, clerks, security guards and custodians-- have been rescinded in the deal. 

All but four employees will return to work in the fall.

Included in the deal:

• 12 vacant positions are being cut.
• 3 bus drivers will still lose their jobs.
• 1 bilingual aid will lose their job.

A major community concern prior to negotiations was talk of cutting all bus drivers, and home-to-school transportation as a whole.

That transportation will remain, with fewer employees.

In addition to the cuts for the classified union, nearly three dozen non-union employees like Superintendent Barry Kayrell, the assistant superintendents, school principals, management and support staff will also be taking a total of 14 furloughs over the next two years. 

In a similar deal also approved at the meeting, , though 11 teachers were still laid off.