Teachers Approve Furlough Days

A proposal to furlough May 24-27 in Las Virgenes Unified in an effort to save at least 63 teaching jobs was approved by the Las Virgenes Educators Association Friday afternoon.

The vote was overwhelmingly one-sided, as 470 members voted in favor of plan, while only 23 were against it.

"I think people were able to be understanding of taking pay cuts because we would save so many jobs," said Jake Anderson, the association's executive director.

The Las Virgenes Board of Education and the association tentatively agreed to the furlough days  April 20, with the promise that at least 63 of the 71 teachers given dismissal notices for the next school year would have them rescinded.

Friday's edition of the educators association's newsletter stated that the district will be asked to rescind 68 layoff notices.

Anderson added that keeping teachers on staff will keep class sizes small.

The  furlough days now need the approval of the board of education, which has organized a special Monday meeting at 5 p.m. at the district office to consider the item.

"I don't think there's any reason why [the board] wouldn't pass it," Anderson said.