March 2, 2013 — In a four to one vote, the Lassen Union High School District (LUHSD) Board of Trustees approved certificated layoffs during a Tuesday, Feb. 19 meeting.

The board approved layoffs for Diamond Mountain Charter High School (DMCHS) staff, which includes one Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and a .43 FTE. An instructor who teaches at both DMCHS and Credence High School was also laid off.

School districts are required to give layoff notices by March 15 or will have to maintain its current staffing regardless of the budget. If it is later determined the layoffs are not needed, notices can be rescinded in May.

To reduce its deficit, the board is looking at ways to cut $308,000 from the 2013-2014 budget. The board is looking at all of the programs including DMCHS and CHS to find ways to cut costs or save money.

LUHSD board trustee Dr. Hal Meadows said, “We’re taking action on things that we haven’t done. For example, we’re issuing a layoff to the Diamond Mountain people, but we haven’t done away with Diamond Mountain.”

An agriculture and a music teacher at Lassen High School were given layoff notices because they do not have their Cross-Cultural Language Development (CLAD) certification, according to Lisa Cavin, executive assistant/human resources coordinator at the (LUHSD).

Per the layoff resolution, “The district has in writing and orally on numerous occasions during the past few years informed teachers that if they didn’t have their CLAD certification that they would be laid off and more junior teachers with CLAD certifications would be retained.”

Once the teachers complete the CLAD or meet the requirements for an emergency permit, Cavin said the layoffs will most likely be rescinded. Both teachers are currently using an emergency permit.

A position for intervention teaching services at .51 FTEs was eliminated because the person currently holding the job gave her resignation. An intervention specialist at one FTE was also laid off.

At its Tuesday, Feb. 12 meeting, the board approved eliminating two non-re-elect layoffs, which means the layoffs will not be rescinded.

According to Cavin, there are several reasons a teacher may be a non re-elect. They might not be the right fit for the district; they might need to meet the requirements for credentials or they may be filling in for another employee who is returning the next year.

Cavin explained it is a formality as an employee has a credential to teach such a class, but none are offered.

However, if one were available, that individual would have seniority in the bargaining unit.

During that meeting, the board also approved eliminating the director of operations position. That person also received layoff notices for the construction manager position, although it has been vacant, and a layoff notice for vocational education services.

Cavin explained the vocational education notice was a formality as the employee has a credential to teach a drafting class, but none are offered.

However, if such a class was available, that individual would have seniority in the bargaining unit.

Board president Skip Jones, board members Michelle Zubillaga, Connie Herman and Meadows voted yes on the personnel items, while vice president Ken Theobald voted no.