Carlsbad Unified School District Approves Pay Cut for All Employees

Salary reductions will save the district $2.2 million

The (CUSD) Board of Trustees has approved 2012-13 salary reductions for all groups. The combined reductions will cover the projected 2012-13 deficit of $2.2 million.

Class sizes not growing, teacher layoff notices to be rescinded

CUSD Board of Trustees President Kelli Moors states, “As a result of each of us sharing the sacrifice, we will be able to keep our current class size at an average of 32 students in elementary and middle schools. We also will be able to rescind the layoffs of most of the 74 teachers who received notices this spring.”

Staff furlough days required, school year shortened to 177 days

The agreement between the District and the Carlsbad Unified Teachers Association (CUTA), which represents approximately 550 certificated staff, was approved on June 27. The CUTA agreement includes adjustments that equal $1.32 million in 2012-13. With a compensation reduction of 2.71%, certificated staff will take five furlough days, including three instructional furlough days (October 8, February 14, May 24) that will shorten the school year to 177 days.

A look at the numbers:

The agreement between the District and the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 777, which represents approximately 425 classified staff, was approved on June 13, 2012. The LIUNA agreement includes adjustments that equal $534,000 in 2012-13. With a compensation reduction of 1.3%, classified staff will take the same three furlough days as certificated staff.

Together, CUTA and LIUNA represent more than 92% of all CUSD employees. The remainder of staff are designated as confidential, supervisory and management. These employees will take a compensation cut of 2.83%, saving the District approximately $98,000 in 2012-13. Board members cut their own compensation by slightly more than 2.83%; from $400 to $388/month.

Moors explains that the compensation reductions were needed because District revenue has steadily declined; from $86 million in 2009-10 to $83 million in 2010-11 to a projected $74 million in 2011-12 and an anticipated $72 million in 2012-13.

She states, “The Board appreciates the collective spirit of cooperation in which everyone has been focused on the overarching priority of offering a world-class education to our 11,000 students. Now, as we look forward to a new school year beginning on August 29, 2012, all of us at the District can move ahead in unison; re-energized and rededicated to driving student achievement.”

–CUSD Press Release