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Teacher layoff process begins
Published 7:31am Wednesday, January 27, 2010The annual process of teacher layoffs in the Fergus Falls School District has begun.
During a board meeting Monday evening, Fergus Falls School Board members gave the go-ahead to begin preparation for reductions in positions within the district for the 2010-11 school year.
The resolution for recommendations for reductions in programs and positions was unanimously approved Monday by the board.
The board is not alone in its early preparations. School districts around the state approved the resolution this month, in accordance with recommendations put forth by the Minnesota School Board Association. The recommendation is intended to give school boards direction when it comes to balancing budgets.
“We’ll take a look at conditions, enrollment, financial conditions and make adjustments,” said Superintendent Jerry Ness.
A reduction in expenditures and a decline in student enrollment are partially responsible for the process, according to the resolution.
While the resolution states that Superintendent Ness and the district’s administration will look at where cuts will be made to both programs and staff, Ness says it’s not likely programs will be on the chopping block.
Ness and the administration will determine what teachers will have contracts terminated and which teachers will be placed on an unrequested leave of absence list.
Teachers placed on unrequested leave of absence may be hired back by the district within the next five years as positions open.
Staff will likely be notified in April, with official action being taken by the board at the end of June.
For the 2009-10 school year, most teachers placed on the unrequested leave of absence list were invited to once again join the district’s team.
