Final Pink Slips Issued for Banning Unified Teachers

As of Monday, a total of 39 final layoff notices have now been mailed out to credentialed employees of the Banning Unified School District.

Superintendent Lynne Kennedy tells Banning-Beaumont Patch that the notices began being mailed out last week, and were all in the mail by Monday.

On Thursday, the school board approved the final layoff of the employees, which includes mostly full time positions within the district.

Initially, the number of people at risk was much greater, as preliminary proposals called for the layoffs of 60.1 full time employees.

Kennedy says that the district is “always hopeful” to be able save even more jobs and to bring some of these 39 teachers back, as the district is still in contract negotiations with the Banning Teachers Association, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

“This action is part of the cost reduction efforts to bridge the 2012-13 budget gap,” the school district board meeting resolution to implement the layoffs states.  “ If the District reduces the workforce by 40 teachers, it is estimated that this will represent approximately $3,200,000 in budget reduction.”

Of the 39 teachers affected, 21 currently teach elementary school, while the other 18 are in secondary education, according to Kennedy.

Those named in the final layoff list from the school district included: 

The district was required to let these employees know on or before May 14 of their employment status, according to Education Code 44955.

Just last week, Beaumont Unified School District found themselves in a similar situation, of 39 teaches and counselors in that district.