Layoffs, Potential Furloughs in BUSD

On March 4, parents, students, and teachers gathered on Martin Luther King Jr. Way to raise awareness of the state budget crisis. The Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) has been enduring cuts for four consecutive years. This spring, the district will see staff layoffs, and furloughs may be implemented in the coming school year.

BUSD was issued about $6.5 million for the 2009–10 and 2010–11 school years, but that stipend is going to be cut off. “In 2011–12, it’s about $3.5 million that we won’t have,” said Berkeley Council of Classified Employees president Paula Phillips.
On April 27, to address the budget shortfall faced by BUSD, the Berkeley Board of Education voted in favor of a district–wide layoff that will affect around thirty school employees. These layoffs targeted classified employees, who are employed in Berkeley’s schools as custodians, teaching assistants, secretaries, and other positions that do not entail a teaching credential.

Some of these employees may be rehired at a later date. Other jobs will be combined in an effort not to cut them out completely, but this consolidation will still reduce available positions. These cuts will make up for a third of the district’s deficit, totaling around $900,000.

Some people involved in classified teachers’ unions view the specific cuts of classified employees as unfair, arguing that these jobs are still important to schools. “Right now I don’t see how the district can afford to cut classifieds any more without suffering a greater impact on students,” said Phillips.

So far, 28 classified employees have been laid off, and another three are being considered for termination. Classified employees are still important to students within the system, said Phillips, who added that “any layoff is a hit to students because classifieds provide vital services.”

Classified employees at Berkeley High School hold many jobs, including answering phones so parents can stay in touch with the school, providing additional educational support for students and teachers and helping run after–school programs. Without these employees, some after–school activities would be eliminated.

Classified employees are not the only ones whom the budget will affect. “The district is proposing to have teachers cut their pay by over one percent to take two furlough days next year,” said Campbell. The furloughs would make up for about $500,000 of the budget.

However, furloughs are, by law, up for negotiation with teachers’ unions. “Under California law, you have to negotiate with [the district’s] unions on furlough days. You can’t just unilaterally make that change,” explained Campbell.

The proposed furloughs would take away the two teacher-development days that are currently scheduled for all teachers of kindergarten through eighth grade in October, secondary teachers in November and elementary teachers in January.

If the furloughs are approved, teachers will not work or receive pay for the two development days they used to attend.
If the furloughs are not put into effect, there will still be repercussions. Berkeley’s Adult school may be affected. “If they can’t reach an agreement with teachers about furlough days, [the district] proposes to eliminate two programs at the Adult School and that will cause about 35 people to lose their jobs,” said Campbell.

Berkeley High School could also experience cuts if the furloughs are not approved. Two academic counselors would be eliminated, and less money would be available for books and materials.

The district is still searching for alternative funding solutions, and opposition to education cuts in the Berkeley school community continues to be present.

“What I suggest and encourage students, parents, and community members to do,” said Phillips, “is to call or write your legislator to tell them how important it is to fund education.”