Federal funding expires, but most might still return next year
Federal funding expires, but most might still return next year
San Benito High School has notified 16 employees that their contracts will not be renewed, but most of them could be rehired for next school year.
The high school district, along with others throughout the state, notified affected certificated and classified staff members before a March 15 deadline. They are not official layoffs; rather, the teachers receiving notices were funded over nearly two years through a federal stimulus program.
With around $375,000 in funding set to expire after this year, the school sent notices to the teachers – in light of uncertainties over funding for next year and the required notification date.
That amount is not accounted for in the general fund from which most employee compensation is allocated. It is equal to about 1.5 percent of the school’s $24.8 million general fund.
“If there are teachers on temporary contracts, they get notices at the end of that contract,” said Superintendent Stan Rose. “Some of them are on temporary contracts, but will be switching over to the general fund next year.”
Some employees might merely replace others who leave, he said.
“The way that will happen is through general fund money, we can restore the position, or if somebody is leaving for another reason we can fill it,” he said.
Rose, though, warned about the possibility that voters do not approve Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax extension on the November ballot. San Benito High School projects a deficit of more than $2 million without the extension. It would require “fairly steep reductions” again next year, he said.
In other news
A San Benito High School trustee was set to announce his resignation from the board at Wednesday night’s meeting, after Pinnacle press time. Rose declined to confirm who the trustee is, noting he was “trying to respect his privacy up until then.”
Look to SanBenitoCountyToday.com for an update.
