By B.C. Manion
The word went out last week about the specific positions being cut to help address an anticipated $54.4 million budget shortfall in Pasco County public schools — but the fallout from those cuts is only just beginning.
The district cut 513 positions, but the actual number of lay-offs was 470 because 43 of those jobs were cut through retirements or resignations.
Superintendent Heather Fiorentino sent a May 19 memo to district staff informing them that if they had not been notified by the end of that day that they were being laid off, then the district thinks it has a position for them.
The cuts include 249 employees who were on temporary service contracts (TSCs), 66 instructional employees, 94 school resource personnel (SRPs), 55 district level employees and six assistant principals.
Temporary service contract teaching positions taking double-digit hits are: elementary education (58), varying exceptionalities (34), science (19), social studies (17), mathematics (16) and language arts (15). Ten guidance counselors on temporary contracts were laid off, too.
The biggest hits in the district’s instructional division were teachers of varying exceptionalities (27) and physical education teachers (10). Eight media specialists and six art teachers were cut, too.
Among the SRPs, categories with the biggest cuts are: media specialist assistants (28), instructional assistants, exceptional student education (21) and, instructional assistants for basic education (19).
The district also cut 55 district-level jobs.
Besides hundreds of employees losing their paychecks, the cuts will have ripple effects throughout the district for some time to come.
The district now is engaged in going through its involuntary transfer process and layoff recall processes to match employees with openings.
Many of those who remain on the payroll will find themselves handling different duties, working at a different location, or both.
The process for reassignments is outlined in the district’s employee contracts.
The district also is making counseling available for employees who are affected by the layoffs or involuntary transfers.
The day that lay-offs were announced was a very hard day in the district, said Joanne Hurley, chairwoman of the Pasco School Board. “People were just fearful and didn’t feel like they could breathe.
“I understand how disheartening the entire process was,” Hurley added, noting it was a tough day for those losing positions, but also for the people delivering the news.
The district tried to take a humane approach, Hurley said, but at the end of the day, there’s no good way to tell someone his or her position has been cut.
The shortfall has forced the district to terminate people who have done an excellent job, Hurley said.
In addition to the disruption, the cuts in personnel will have a direct bearing on the district’s abilities to deliver services, Fiorentino told board members during a budget workshop a few weeks ago.
The impacts from those reduced services won’t be fully felt until the 2011-12 school year begins.
