Lawrence lays off 14 employees

Responding to a lack of state aid, an increase in special-education costs and mounting legal expenses, the Lawrence School District Board of Education approved the laying off of 11 teachers and three clerical employees at its July 29 meeting.

The special-education, speech and hearing teachers — some of whom work for the district part-time — also provide instruction at the dozen private schools in the district.

"There is no animus here -— this is a redistribution of funds to accomplish the same thing," said board Trustee Dr. Asher Mansdorf, who noted that state aid has not come through as anticipated, while "significantly higher" bills for out-of-district services and multiple lawsuits in the past year have the district scrambling for funds.

The layoffs are expected to save the school district an estimated $500,000, according to Deputy Superintendent Gary Schall, who noted that a majority of those who are being let go — and will no longer be governed by the current teachers' contract — have requested reappointment on a per-diem basis. The remaining jobs would be open to other certified teachers, Schall added.

Two clerical employees also lost their jobs, and a third clerical position was eliminated: That employee retired and will not be replaced.

Board Trustee Rabbi Nahum Marcus —- the parent of a special-needs child — said that saving money was not the only consideration. "I am tired of the [Lawrence Teachers Association] discriminating and hurting children," said Marcus, pointing out that the teachers union's contracted days off created lapses of teaching time in the private schools during public-school vacations.

District schools' vacations are scheduled at different times than those of the private schools, which impacts private-school children who are entitled to use Lawrence's special education services. Private-school children who rely on these services —- which include a resource room as well as speech, occupational and psychological therapy — missed nearly 30 days of services because of the mismatched schedules.

Though the layoffs are permitted by the current contract between the teachers and the district, Lawrence Teachers Association President Lori Skonberg strongly denounced the decision. "The LTA agreed to sit down to negotiate the matter but was rebuffed," said Skonberg, adding that the board insisted on "immediate acquiescence," to the board's action.

"You can give any reason you like for the abhorrent decision you have made ...," Skonberg told the board. "However, the sad truth is that your decision is at its heart nothing more than an attempt to save every last dime at the expense of the students." Skonberg also asked how the board ended up with a $700,000 to $800,000 budget deficit, while the budget passed in May included the union positions.

"A budget is a budget — that's all it is," Schall said. "It's a living, breathing document." He added that he expects the deficit to be eliminated soon.

In May, district voters approved a $94.1 million operating budget for the 2010-11 school year. It was the fourth consecutive year that voters passed a fiscal plan on the first attempt. Lawrence operated on austerity budgets from 2003 to 2007.

"It was the fiscally responsible thing to do," Schall said of the layoffs. "Every dollar we save this year will be a dollar plus next year." He added that the savings would enable the district to keep next year's tax levy at the current level, and that there would be absolutely no reduction of student services.

"It is deeply disturbing how flippantly you have made this hurtful and vindictive decision without giving any consideration to the people who have been harmed by it," Skonberg said of the board's decision.

The decision was "good for the kids, good for the taxpayer and community — but not good for teachers," Schall said.

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