Teacher pink slips rescinded

Twenty teachers in the Las Virgenes Unified School District who received precautionary layoff notices on March 13 because of California's broken budget will keep their jobs—at least for the time being.

Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Dan Stepenosky said the teachers have had their pink slip notices rescinded.

"We did not follow through with the layoff procedures," Stepenosky said, "so they were just withdrawn."

On March 13, school districts throughout California issued the precautionary layoffs to credentialed employees, including teachers, counselors and librarians. Of the more than 60 positions identified to be cut in Las Virgenes, 47 teachers received a pink slip notifying them of their potential layoff. Twenty-seven were told they won't be rehired next year, but another 20 were given a reprieve after the school district conducted an exhaustive study of "every single teacher, every single class," said Superintendent Donald Zimring.

The cost to keep the 20 teachers working is estimated at $500,000, Zimring said. Federal stimulus money for the school is expected to help, but following the defeat of most of the propositions on last week's ballot, teachers and other employees are still at risk for losing their jobs.

Mayme Paul Thompson, a professional director and choreographer who helps with musical productions at Agoura High School, asked the school board to find a way to "save the theater department" and one particular teacher, Elizabeth Brasler, who had received a pink slip.

"Find loopholes, whatever you can do, to keep Mrs. Brasler," Thompson said.

Brasler's job is safe, Zimring said.

Stepenosky released the names of other teachers who have been given a reprieve: Molly Albertson, Jennifer Ball, Anita Brkic, Andrea Cirino, Rachel Golds, Jeremy Janton, Lois Kalbfeld, Crystal Kalish, Kristy Kaufman, Janine Majewski, Jennifer McNee, Nanci Powers, Nadia Rizk, Vanessa Savich, Stephanie Skidmore, Gail Tomaszczuk, Jennifer Treadaway, Cindy Walczuk and Kim Wildman.

The teachers notified that their layoff notices were withdrawn were chosen for many reasons, including seniority and the "particular kind of service they provided," Stepenosky said.

He said possible layoffs in the future depend on how the state budget crisis unfolds.