• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

More than 500 Pasco public school positions expected to be cut

May 17, 2011 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The exact number of people laid off will depend upon attrition

By B.C. Manion

This week is expected to go down as one of the most difficult weeks in the history of Pasco County Public Schools.

Hundreds of employees are expected to find out on Thursday, May 19 that their positions are being cut as the school district seeks to address an anticipated $54.4 million shortfall.

The Pasco County School Board signaled its intention to eliminate 513 positions during a budget workshop last week. The formal vote was scheduled to happen on May 3.

The district has set aside May 19 for notifying specific employees who will be losing their jobs, said district spokeswoman Summer Romagnoli.

District officials did not identify specific positions that will be trimmed at last week’s workshop because they need to follow the union contract in selecting which employees will be cut, and they want to inform affected employees personally instead of through the media.

Regardless of how the message is delivered, however, board members and Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said it’s an action they wish they could avoid.

The positions being cut include 458 at the school level, 35 at the district level and 20 in transportation, food service, custodial and before and after school programs.

It remains unclear exactly how many people will get their pink slips because some positions may be cut through attrition as employees retire or voluntarily leave the system.

The job cuts will save the district an estimated $27.8 million.

In addition, the district is proposing that every one of its employees take a pay reduction – in the form of furlough days.

The proposed furlough days and the timing of those days must be negotiated with United School Employees of Pasco.

Fiorentino has recommended four furlough days for employees with 12-month contracts and three furlough days for employees with shorter contracts. The furlough days would save the district about $5.9 million.

The district also plans to use $11.4 million in federal Edujobs funds and to use $10 million from its capital budget to pay for property insurance, to help plug the budget gap.

Fiorentino made it clear that services will be diminished.

“We don’t have any bench warmers on our team,” Fiorentino said. When the district cuts people, it reduces its abilities to provide services.

Joanne Hurley, chairwoman of the board, said the district didn’t want to eliminate programs, so it opted instead to reduce services.

Hurley said there’s no doubt that these cuts will affect students and staff.

At last week’s workshop, Cynthia Armstrong said: “I think we all felt like we were coming to a funeral today.”

Fiorentino and board members also warned that the layoffs and furlough days might not be enough to resolve budget issues.

If the shortfall turns out to be worse than expected, the board may need to take additional measures.

If the shortfall is $5 million more than expected, Fiorentino recommends that employees shell out $50 a month more for benefits; if the shortfall is $10 million more, they recommend employees pay an additional $100 a month.

All of the proposed cuts come on top of a new mandate that all state employees pay 3 percent a year into their pension.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

6 Reasons to Consider Remodeling your Bathroom with CMK Construction

March 21, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Have you wanted to remodel your bathroom for a while now, but need that little extra push to make your decision? Check … [Read More...] about 6 Reasons to Consider Remodeling your Bathroom with CMK Construction

Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

March 7, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

One of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s main missions is being a champion for culture. “Celebrating culture is a vital … [Read More...] about Avalon Applauds African American Club of Pasco

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

03/25/2023 – America is Awesome

Lucas, Macysyzn & Dyer, Injury Lawyers and the Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Community Foundation will host an “America is Awesome Celebration” on March 25 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 9426 Little Road in New Port Richey. The event will include live music from 5 Shades of Grey and Southbound 75; fireworks; a DJ dance party, silent auction; raffles; 50/50; car show, food and drink; and more. All proceeds will benefit K9 for Partners and local law enforcement. General admission is free. VIP tickets are available. Donations for parking will be accepted. For information, visit America is Awesome Celebration on Facebook. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – America is Awesome

03/25/2023 – Arts Benefit

The Pasco Fine Arts Council will host a Benefit for the Arts & Silent Auction on March 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Pasco Arts Gallery, 4145 Fairford Drive in New Port Richey. Wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. For information, visit PascoArts.org. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Arts Benefit

03/25/2023 – Car Show

The fifth annual Hillsborough Fire & EMS Museum Car Show will take place on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church of Lutz, 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by the show at 10 a.m. Awards will be presented at 1 p.m. For information, visit HillsboroughFireMuseum.org. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Car Show

03/25/2023 – Cars & Coffee

Connerton’s Cars & Coffee is scheduled for March 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Club Connerton in Land O’ Lakes. The event will include a car show (awards and judging), food trucks, raffles, live music, and vendors. Free coffee will be served from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cash or credit required for vendors and food trucks. Pre-register for the car show at PremiumCarShows.com. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Cars & Coffee

03/25/2023 – Community Marketplace

The Women of Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host a Community Marketplace on March 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some donations will go to Hope Services Life Skills & Vocational Training Center. For information, call 813-973-2211. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Community Marketplace

03/25/2023 – Dance performance

Dancers from the Patel Conservatory Popular Dance Program and artists from Next Generation Ballet will perform “On the Edge: DIVOS” on March 25 at 7 p.m., at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. The artists will dance to music from the greatest male pop stars of all time. Tickets are $22.50 and can be purchased by calling 813-229-7827, in person at the Straz Center Ticket Sales Office, or online at StrazCenter.org. Handling fees may apply. … [Read More...] about 03/25/2023 – Dance performance

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: