More Layoff Notices to Teachers Voided

The Capistrano Unified School District’s Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to rescind 16 more of the 274 preliminary termination notices they sent to teachers and administrators last month.

The notices were sent to all first- and second-year teachers and some third-year teachers.

The board, which had already rescinded 43 of the notices on April 6, said the notices were sent out to give members “maximum flexibility” when forming next year’s budget, which is expected to fall $8.9 million short of costs.

The 215 teachers who still face possible layoff will be required to take part in a hearing process before an administrative law judge beginning Wednesday.

During the proceedings, attorneys representing the school district and the teachers union will argue the merits of the proposed layoffs.

District officials said there is a possibility that more notices will be rescinded.

“We’ll be looking at the situation every week until the budget is adopted,” said Terri Lunine, assistant superintendent of human resources.

“We are hoping that after the budget picture becomes clearer, we’ll be able to rescind as many final layoff notices as possible.”

Ric Stephenson, president of the teachers union, was pleased that more layoff notices were voided but said the number of notices the district sent out was “excessive.”

“We regret that more than 200 teachers still have to go through the hearing process,” Stephenson said.

“We are working very closely with the superintendent and other district officials in attempting to devise a budget that will include the rescission of the layoff notices of all the teachers.”

Early in June, the board will be presented with a final proposed budget and, after a public hearing, will adopt a spending plan June 15.