Carson City teachers may face layoffs as part of statewide budget cuts, Superintendent Richard Stokes said this week, and he's hoping to decide how many as soon as possible.
"We anticipate there will be layoffs, and we need to give them time," he said. "People need to have time to orchestrate employment elsewhere."
Although the Legislature has not yet determined the extent of the cuts, Stokes said the district needs to move forward with its plans.
District officials will use the February school board meetings to outline various possibilities.
"We hope to be able to apply some numbers with each of the scenarios," he said. "Hopefully folks will feel like they've had the chance to have a say."
Teachers and parents from Fremont Elementary School spoke at the last board meeting, saying they felt like they were bearing the brunt of the cuts with the proposed change from a year-round to traditional calendar.
However, Stokes said, that is just one piece in a larger puzzle.
"We are taking a look at how we do everything in the district," he said.
He said teacher training, power use, programs and transportation are all among items that have come under scrutiny.
Fremont Elementary School teacher Jennifer Locke said the district should use its $11.1 million savings before cutting other programs and positions in the district.
"At times like these, we have to use our personal savings," she said. "The district should do the same."
Stokes said using the ending-fund balance to solve this crunch would not be prudent.
"We envision this economic downturn to last for some time," he said. "I think it would be foolish to spend all of our ending-fund balance in one year."
The district is also adding a feature to its Web site at carsoncityschools.com where people can make suggestions on cuts or how to save money.
Depending on what is cut and how much is saved, Stokes said, it will determine the number of layoffs that will come.
Still, until the Legislature, which convenes Monday, makes its final determination, Stokes said, the best the district can do is make its best guess.
The district's tentative budget is due April 15 and the final budget on May 20.
"The Legislative session doesn't end until the end of June," he said. "It's conceivable that we won't know until sometime in the summer if some of the decisions we've made are on target."
- Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.