Las Virgenes Prepares For Staff Layoffs

CALABASAS, CA — The Las Virgenes Unified School District has notified 250 non-teaching employees that they will not be returning to work on Aug. 19, the beginning of the fall semester.

The district recently announced two fall options for the fall 2020 semester: students can either return to school on a staggered basis, or take part in an all-virtual learning academy. With fewer students on campus, fewer support staff, like cafeteria workers, special education instructors and campus security, are needed.

Special education teachers were divided into two tiers based on experience and education. According to The Acorn, half of the tier-one teachers have been given notice of possible layoffs.

Laid-off workers will have the opportunity to return, but it’s hard to say when. Superintendent Dan Stepenosky said that he hopes to rehire as many as possible once all students are able to return to campus. Stepenosky told The Acorn that while staff like campus supervisors and cafeteria workers are normally indispensable, the district needs to use its reduced funds for health and sanitation, like temperature checkers and custodians.

Like so many others across the state, the district’s budget is in tough shape. State lawmakers struck a deal last week that means that the district will only need to cut $7 million, rather than the $15 million the district was planning for. But that’s still a hefty sum, district officials say that the district will need to take out loans that will then be repaid with state funds.