With RIF deadline Thursday, Lake Tahoe Unified School District to advise ten people of possible layoffs

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a tough meeting of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) on Tuesday, with a reduction in force (RIF) being the sole topic. With a RIF March 15 deadline looming, the trustees had to pass a resolution to inform certified staff members that could be laid off if more funding could not be found.

"This is not a time or place we'd like to be here right now," said LTUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler.

Cutler said there were several factors in creating a list of ten staff members for "riffing": a reduction in enrollment over the last four years and an expected continuation of reduction, revenues reducing after the Governor’s proposed budget in January showed less funding than expected, cost of living adjustment increased, and lower daily attendance than seen in the past. He said it was clear they could not meet the new budget so cuts had to be considered.

They are currently $4M short on meeting the budget demands. LTUSD is budgeting off the Governor’s January budget but still holding out hope his May budget shows better numbers and they won't have to lay off anyone.

On the RIF list: Two first-year assistant principals at the high school, three elementary school teachers, one early childhood special education, one CTE residential and commercial construction teacher, one high school social studies teacher, one elementary school music teacher, and one speech-language pathologist.

So far two positions have been reduced at the management level - principal of Elevated Digital Learning Academy and director of finance. That digital learning principal has filled the previously vacant CFO position, and the director of finance left and they will not fill that position.

All speakers at the meeting begged Cutler and the trustees to find the funds and not cut programs they find beneficial for their children. Many asked for more budget cuts to the administrative staff, and leaving those in place who are closest to the children.

"This is one of the worst times in public education," said Jodi Dayberry, president of the South Tahoe Educators Association, of the RIF process.

She also touched on the growing mental health issues in the community, something that is impacting all of the schools. Money for counselors is gone in the schools, and underfunded in South Lake Tahoe.

At a time when families are facing skyrocketing housing prices, as well as goods and services costs that they can no longer afford, this is the time they need more support at school.

"We have a community crisis, and there is no easy answer," said Jodi.

South Tahoe High Social Studies teacher Whitney Pomeroy said they should not be eliminating the two assistant principals at the school, the ones that help keep students on track. Pomeroy also said cutting social studies teachers and possibly the freshman social studies class does not give the subject much credibility.

"They set students up for success," said Pomeroy of the valuable high school class.

There is still hope that the teachers and staff members can stay and not lose their jobs.

"We are trying to turn over anything that can get additional dollars," said Cutler. "We had to do this at this point in time."

Dayberry said, "We have to do something and it's not just at a district or community level." With fluctuating school budgets a norm, the public should demand better.

The trustees voted 4-0 (Trustee Kemper was absent) to adopt a resolution to send out possible termination notices to the ten certificated employees identified. At this time they haven't addressed the staffing numbers of classified employees that may be laid off.