Layoff Notices Sent to 20,000 Teachers in California

At San Francisco Chronicle, "More than 20,000 California Teachers Pink-Slipped":

More than 20,000 public school teachers in California opened their mailboxes over the last few days to find a pink slip inside as districts met the state's Thursday deadline for dispensing the dreaded news to the educators that they may not have a job in the fall.

The layoff notices are preliminary, the districts' best guess at the amount of money they will get to educate kids next year after the Legislature concludes its annual budget fight this summer. But a proposed tax measure on the November ballot offers more uncertainty than usual.

Districts won't know until two months into the new school year whether voters will approve a tax increase that would prevent a $4.8 billion trigger cut to education funding, as proposed in the governor's budget.

See also the Long Beach Press-Telegram, "LBCC braces for millions in budget cuts":

LONG BEACH — Long Beach City College is bracing for major budget cuts following an unanticipated loss of $3.5 million in mid-year state funding cuts, officials said Thursday.

College officials said LBCC must cut an additional $5 million from its $150 million general fund to balance the budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. The college will have to slash its budget by a total of $9.8 million if voters fail to pass a November tax initiative designed to help fund education.

"Long Beach City College is facing devastating budget cuts that have been imposed on all of California's community colleges by the state," LBCC President Eloy Ortiz Oakley said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the news going forward is worse, with millions more being cut, increased student demand, and no new revenues or support projected for several years."

Oakley said LBCC will have to make difficult budget decisions in coming months. More announcements on specific cuts will be coming over the next several weeks.

So far, the college has frozen several open positions, including the dean of career education and workforce development and two contract faculty positions.

However, LBCC is still planning to hire new faculty in the English, speech, math and culinary arts departments. Oakley said these hires are essential for supporting student success and enrollment targets.

Oakley said students likely won't see any fee hikes or major reductions in courses, but the college is considering layoffs and cuts to programs and student services. Among the possibilities, the college is considering cutbacks in library and administrative office hours, reductions in programs including athletic programs, and the consolidation of certain services between its two campuses.

It's going to get worse before it gets better. That Brown tax initiative in November will go down to defeat.

More on this at Los Angeles Times, "Brown takes tougher tack on wealthy," and "Jerry Brown, tax realist."