The San Diego Unified school board voted yesterday to keep close to 430 jobs for next school year. Those jobs were on the chopping block just a few weeks ago. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has this report.
Of the 430 jobs that were saved, more than half affect teachers. The other positions affect nurses, custodians, and vice principals.
All those people got layoff notices in the mail. But things changed a few weeks ago after the Governor backed away from making severe cuts to state education funding.
Juliette Roque De La Paz is a school nurse whose job was at-risk. She says the situation inspired her to speak up for all the nurses who faced losing their jobs.
Roque De La Paz: This experience has been one that challenged me, pushed me to grow further than I've ever grown before as an individual whose committed to making a difference.
San Diego Unified was facing an $80 million loss in state education funding. District officials first notified 900 teachers of possible layoffs. They also cut and reduced the hours of about 1,200 school employees.
The district's money problems have since improved. But it still faces a possible $53 million shortfall.
School Superintendent Terry Grier says that means some people might still lose their jobs.
He says teachers and employees will be shuffled around the district next school year to make-up for the loss.
Grier: Here's the dilemma. Because of seniority rights, teachers moving in and out, as a result of that adjustment, some of those people there is no question will not be back in their same school.
Union leaders still want the district to avoid laying off any teacher or school employee.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
