Las Vegas District Teacher Layoffs Loom, says Superintendent

The Clark County school district could soon see a significant cut in the number of teachers it employs as the district deals with a massive deficit.

Clark County School District Superintendent Dwight Jones has warned that the pending teacher layoffs won’t be far off, as the district’s 2011-12 budget must be balanced.

The issue is an unsettled teacher contract that has the district in the red for $39 million. And, if it isn’t settled with the local teachers union soon, pink slips will go out to the first round of teachers within the “next month or so,” writes Trevon Milliard at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

While teachers won’t be fired immediately, they will be informed that they won’t be required to work in the following school year. However, despite the threat, the Clark County Education Association says that it must protect pay raises for its staff.

Jones believes that teachers must take the same pay freeze other employee groups already have to balance its budget.

Jones explained:

“Every other labor group has made concessions, outside of the teachers.

“I’m not hurting you. I’m not taking money away from you. I’m just saying don’t take an increase.”

The battle has been going on for some time. At the end of last year the superintendent asked school principals to plan for layoffs, totaling 1,000 teaching and licensed-staff positions. This would mean a cut of up to seven positions in each school.

The situation has required an arbitrator’s ruling on the teacher contract to draw a close to the fight. State law requires the district to submit a balanced budget in April, and so the district needs a decision soon.

“I don’t know if I can wait until April to send out the first pink slips.

“It’s a lose-lose for me.”

Jones believes that regardless which way the arbitrator rules, teachers will fail. He explained that if the union gets its way then the district would cut at least 1,000 positions and if the the district wins, teachers may have to pay back the raises implemented this year.

Union President Ruben Murillo posted a statement addressing the threat on the CCEA website, in which, he said:

“In an attempt to strengthen its position, the district went straight to teachers using the threat of layoffs to cause fear and intimidation, all the while still hiring teachers.”

However, Jones said that the district hasn’t increased teacher staffing this year other than just replacing those who have retired or left.

“I guarantee those people who are yelling and screaming wouldn’t want that for their kids.”

The district needs an increase of $38 million in concessions from teachers in 2012-13 to balance that budget, regardless of the arbitrator‘s decision.

“I can’t expect they’ll (teachers union officials) work with me.

“Over the summer, if everything stays the same, we could have substantial teacher cuts that happen before the next school year.

“At the end of the day, the other folks have made the concessions,” Jones said.

Comments

Linda Brees

March 6, 2012 at 1:53 am

I’ve once considered moving to the Las Vegas area. No more. Clark County is one of the worst school districts in the country.

Reply
Linda Brees

March 6, 2012 at 1:55 am

The problem, is, of course, not the teachers and the unions, contrary to what scaremongering Jones is engaging in. It’s the feast and famine (and it’s mostly famine: schools are not very high funding priority in that county) way the school district is funded. If Jones was really looking to improve the quality of education there, he’d lay off himself first.

Reply
Joe

March 6, 2012 at 1:57 am

“However, despite the threat, the Clark County Education Association says that it must protect pay raises for its staff.”

Well, in case you’re wondering what the union’s priority are, there you go.

Reply
- tired teacher
  
  March 6, 2012 at 5:34 am
  
  you’re right joe, the union shouldn’t ever try to make sure that teachers actually are paid something for the work they do.
  
  in fact i agree with you, we should only pay them what a wal-mart employee makes, that seems fair right?
  
  Reply
MattW

March 6, 2012 at 6:28 am

Joe, you never answered my question, which are you a sock puppet paid by a think-tank or a crank with too much time on your hands?

Reply
- Joe
  
  March 6, 2012 at 6:39 am
  
  Matt, I answered your questions several times over several different posts. I did so more respectfully than you did in posing them. Respectful disagreement is always welcome. Ad hominem attacks are not. If you have nothing of substance to contribute, I wonder why you’d waste the time doing so.
  
  Reply
  - tired teachers
    
    March 6, 2012 at 7:49 am
    
    i find your constant attacks against teachers an unions neither respectful nor full of substance.
    
    in fact i notice as soon as you are responded to with facts you have nothing else to say. that would make you either a trouble maker, or someone who never lets facts get in the way of your opinion
    
    Reply
  - Mike
    
    March 9, 2012 at 9:30 am
    
    Plus its convenient to use the “your statement adds nothing to the discussion” arguement, but when has your been anymore than vitriol against unions? Just asking, not a union member, but fair is fair.
    
    Reply
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March 6, 2012 at 1:51 pm

[...] Education News: Las Vegas District Teacher Layoffs Loom, says Superintendent An unsettled teacher contract and a looming deficit could mean as many as 1000 layoffs of teachers and staff in Clark County Schools. [...]

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March 20, 2012 at 6:54 pm

[...] "At the end of last year the superintendent asked school principals to plan for layoffs, totaling 1,000 teaching and licensed-staff positions." Las Vegas District Teacher Layoffs Loom, says Superintendent | Education News [...]

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