“We believe there is more cushion in the budget than the district is projecting, and the district will be able to maintain solvency and bring back jobs,” said Sue Conway, co-president of the Burbank Teachers Assn.
Trustees, under pressure from the state’s budget plan that will cut a total of $13.1 million from the district’s budget over the next three years, voted last month to send notices to employees filling 128.7 positions to warn them that they may be laid off.
The board has since rescinded notices to all but 61 employees, and may be able to find other opportunities for savings.
However, it is unlikely that the district will be able to avoid layoffs altogether, trustee President Larry Applebaum said.
Members of the audience argued that teacher reductions would have adverse effects on children, increasing class sizes and reducing the amount of personal attention received by each student.
Trustees argued that they are thinking “outside the box.”
Board member Debbie Kukta suggested possibilities for savings could still be explored but would involve some flexibility on the part of employees.
The district could explore an “across the board” salary cut of up to 4.5% in order to prevent layoffs altogether, Kukta said.
Officials could also cut benefit payments, perhaps offering $1,000 to each employee instead of paying for health insurance, a decision that could save $9,000 per employee.
Another possibility, she said, might involve generous retirement incentive packages, known as “golden handshakes,” which could save the district money by encouraging high-salaried employees to retire earlier than they may have planned.
