44 Teachers Say Goodbye to Jobs

Dozens of laid-off teachers bid farewell to Temecula schools -- and their jobs -- on Friday.

Forty-four teachers will not return to school next year, according to Melanie Norton, a spokesperson for the Temecula Valley Unified School District.

"Friday was the last work day for teachers, and so it was the last day for teachers who received final lay-off notices in May," she said via email. "We have 44 teachers in layoff status."

, but later with the teachers union that allowed for many teachers to keep their jobs, but required furlough days.

"It's a bitter-sweet ending," said Superintendent Tim Ritter during the year's last school board meeting.

Another 80 district employees will be retiring, and their positions will not be filled, Ritter said. Other non-teaching staff was also laid off, bringing the total number of employees who will not return next year to 160 people.
"That's a tough loss to our organization," Ritter said.

Though he was sure the remaining staff would be able to maintain good quality, if cuts deepen next year, the students will be affected, he said. "I have absolute confidence everybody will step up," he said. "My concern is we're hitting a tipping point."