Features

BUSD Brings Back All Teachers from Layoff List

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday April 25, 2008 - 09:34:00 AM

The Berkeley Unified School District was able to bring back all its “pink-slipped” classroom teachers Wednesday, after the district rescinded potential layoff notices for 11 multiple-credentialed teachers. 

The total number of pink-slipped teachers now stands at nine, a big drop from the 55 who received notices last month in face of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed $4.8 billion budget cuts. 

Last week, 35 teachers were brought back from possible termination. 

“It’s great news,” said Berkeley Federation of Teachers Cathy Campbell. “It’s very exciting to know that all these great recently trained teachers can remain. But we are concerned about the nine art teachers and counselors who are still on the lay-off list. We hope they come back soon.” 

The nine teachers who still face possible termination include four art teachers—two at Berkeley High School, one at Willard Middle School and a part-time teacher at Berkeley Arts Magnet—and five counselors, four at the high school and one at Longfellow Middle School. 

“It’s important to remember the district still faces a $3.2 million budget cut,” Campbell said. “It means that other things from our schools will be cut.” 

Thirty classified employees will receive layoff notices or have their hours of employment reduced in the coming weeks, according to a resolution passed by the Berkeley Board of Education Wednesday. 

The district’s Assistant Superintendent Lisa Udell could not be reached for comment. 

The list of positions affected by the cuts includes instructional specialists, a school safety officer, a district sous chef and a parent liaison. 

District Superintendent Bill Huyett said Wednesday that the district hoped to bring back as many classified employees as possible in the coming months.