Vote on District Furloughs Begins

AGOURA HILLS–At least 63 Las Virgenes Unified teachers could have their layoff notices rescinded if a proposed district-wide four-day furlough wins the approval of the majority of Las Virgenes Educators Association members, who  began a week-long vote on the plan Friday at Agoura High School.

The furlough is part of a tentative agreement reached this week between the association and the district to help reduce a $3.5-million budget shortfall in the next school year.

Supt. Donald Zimring released a statement Tuesday announcing that a potential compromise had been reached with the association, which is composed of 625 certified employees in K-12 schools throughout Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills and Westlake Village.

About 100 association members attended the meeting in Agoura High's gymnasium though not everyone voted, said Craig Hochhaus, an association board member.

Teachers who did not cast ballots Friday can vote at their respective schools through April 29, when all votes will be tallied, he added.

A bulletin on the Las Virgenes Unified Web site said that 90 percent of the 71 district employees who were told last month that they would not have a job next school year would return if association members were willing to impose the May 24-27  furlough.

In addition to the furlough, the agreement also stipulates that teachers, counselors and administrators will receive a 5.4 percent pay cut effective May 1.

Although there won't be a vote count until next week, some teachers are already saying how they voted, including Robin Midiri, a math teacher at Calabasas High School, who supports the furlough.

The agreement may not be perfect, but the district and the Las Virgenes Educators Association negotiated "the best of all evils" and will hopefully prevent an increase in class sizes, she said.

"I don't want to see class sizes go up," Midiri said. "We can't end up with class sizes that shoot up to 40 to 45 students. We can't teach that way."

Having 63 teachers return next year to Las Virgenes Unified is worth having a little less income next year, said Tom Johnson, who teaches government at Calabasas High.

"Protecting the jobs of my colleagues is important," he said. "I'm willing to take a small hit for that."

If the Las Virgenes Educators Association approves the agreement, the Board of Education would also need to sign off on it.

Calabasas schools throughout the district posted notices on their Web sites that if the proposal is approved by both bodies, an updated schedule would be made available soon.

The notice also includes suggestions of potential activities for students during the extra week off.

"District staff members are working with various outside agencies to provide child care and/or alternative activities on elementary campuses during the new week of school closure," the notice on the A.E. Wright Middle School Web site read.

Among parents, the extra week off is drawing mixed reactions.

"The kids need to be in school," said Tarese Denison, the mother of a Bay Laurel Elementary School second grader. "I already think they aren't learning enough in class."

Denison said she would have to tutor her daughter herself because she does not want her to miss out on a week of schoolwork.

For another Bay Laurel mom, however, the extra week off will be a good chance for a family vacation. Kelly Brock-Jennings says her husband has some time off so they may go out of town.

 Brock-Jennings said she is in favor of the furlough days if they are the best way to balance the budget and keep teachers on board.

But she does have one gripe.

"It could have been better if they tacked it on at the end of this year or the beginning of the next school year, " Brock-Jennings said.