The Sweetwater Union High School District will not be issuing layoff notices to teachers or staff this year, announced SUHSD board president John McCann during a press conference on Monday.
"We ultimately feel that it is important that we can do everything possible to give our students and our teachers some stability and consistency in the classroom," McCann said.
The district says it found ways to cut $33 million out of its budget, which helped it cover a projected budget deficit of $26 million.
The district saved money by offering employees over age 55 an early retirement program, which Superintendent Jesus Gandara says will save them $6 million in personnel costs. Gandara says they expect to receive $9 million from a federal stimulus program. In addition, the district says they can save $5.2 million by increasing the number of students in each classroom by two. Additional savings will come from various cuts to programs and administrative services, like reduced student transportation and staff furlough days, without affecting any of its current staff or students to cover the entire $33 million.
The Sweetwater High Union School District is the largest high school district in the state of California.
