SFUSD board approves layoff notices for hundreds of staff, preserves teachers in targeted ‘superintendent zone’

The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education on Feb. 28 authorized staff to issue preliminary layoff notices that could affect hundreds of employees, citing a deepening state budget shortfall and an estimated district shortfall in the tens of millions of dollars.

The board voted to approve four separate resolutions — a reduction in particular kinds of certificated services, a reduction of paraprofessional services, rules for establishing seniority among employees hired on the same date, and elimination of early-education positions — that collectively authorize the superintendent to notify affected staff and to proceed with required hearings and notifications. The motions passed by recorded vote; board leaders said the overall number of full-time-equivalent positions affected across categories is roughly 333 FTE and staff estimated gross savings in the range of $25 million to $35 million depending on final notices and rescissions.

Why it matters: Superintendent Carlos Garcia told the board the decisions are the result of state funding cuts and that the district is ‘‘left with no options’’ but to prepare notices to show fiscal solvency. He said the district previously cut more than $113 million and faces an additional roughly $83 million over the next two years under one forecast, rising to about $120 million if a statewide tax measure fails. ‘‘This is the absolute worst day of the year for me and members of my staff,’’ Garcia said, describing the move as a reluctant measure to preserve district operations.

Key provisions and timeline: The certificated-staff resolution authorizes sending preliminary notices for reduction in particular kinds of services (PKS) and specifies categories of credentials and positions that will be protected under statutory exceptions (for example, math, science, special education, bilingual credentials and certain zone assignments). Staff said certified notices must be authorized to meet a March 15 deadline; if authorized, notices would be mailed by certified mail on March 8, administrative hearings would be held April 3–9, the administrative law judge’s decision would be returned by May 7, and final notices or rescissions would be issued no later than May 9.

Superintendent zone skip: As part of the certificated proposal, staff requested and the board approved seeking administrative validation to ‘‘skip’’ (protect) 70 teachers who work in the district’s superintendent zone — a set of historically hard-to-staff, low-performing schools that have received targeted investments and professional development. Supporters — principals, parents and site leaders from Mission and Bayview-area schools — argued the skip preserves recent school improvement gains and staff stability; opponents, including union representatives and teachers from other hard-to-staff schools, said the approach pits schools and staff against one another and undermines seniority protections.

Paraprofessionals, early education and seniority rules: The board also approved a resolution that would reduce about 106.04 FTE of paraprofessional services and reduce hours equivalent to additional FTEs through consolidations, and a short resolution to eliminate 35 FTE in the early education department as of June 30, 2012. A separate resolution established objective criteria for resolving ties among employees with the same first-paid-service date, awarding points for credentials, bilingual authorizations and assignment to superintendent-zone schools.

Public reaction: More than 40 callers addressed the board in organized public testimony. Principals and parents described recent investments and rising test scores at zone schools and urged the board to preserve teacher continuity there. Union leaders and other teachers warned that skipping protections for some schools would be divisive, urging the board to seek alternatives and to protect paraprofessional positions that provide language and special-education supports.

What’s next: With the board’s vote, the superintendent is authorized to issue preliminary notices under Education Code procedures; affected certificated employees could receive notices in early March and may contest them at administrative hearings in April. The district expects reemployment lists, potential rescissions and final notices by May. The board and district staff said they will continue to evaluate attrition, retirements and other offsets that may reduce the number of actual layoffs.