Pink Slips for Teachers Approved

School officials voted today to hand out 120 pink slips to Temecula teachers.

The voted unanimously during a meeting today to give permission to cut the jobs if the need arises this year.

The teachers may not lose their jobs, according to Lori Ordway-Peck, the assistant superintendent of business services.

Teachers require six months of notice before being laid off, so the district will notify 120 teachers in case the district needs to make cuts when the state budget is passed.

The state budget is scheduled to be approved on June 30.

No decision was made regarding the elimination of non-teaching employees -- such as administrators -- because they only require a 45 day notice that their position will be eliminated, Ordway-Peck said.

The board is expected to consider the reduction of these positions as well as other prospects for budget reductions at a future meeting, according to Melanie Norton, a spokesperson for the district.

State officials notified the Temecula district that it would probably take a significant cut, but there's no way to say until the budget is passed, Ordway-Peck said.

"This never looks the same by May or June," she said.

Though only teaching positions were scheduled for layoffs, that does not mean the jobs of non-teachers are safe if the budget comes up short. These employees require only 45 days notice before being laid off, Ordway-Peck said.

To read the documents outlining the layoffs that the board approved, click on the PDF files attached to .

The trustees bemoaned the state of the budget before casting their votes.

"There's no way to get around this," said Trustee Richard Shafer. "We're not cold. When we make decisions, we do the best we can, and we're making a commitment to minimize the impact as much as we can."

When the state's budget passes, the district may face a hard choice. Cut teachers, or cut other positions, said Trustee Kristi Rutz-Robbins.

"We already cut our maintenance so bad our buildings have started to deteriorate," she said, adding they had to hire several back.

District officials feel forced into a corner by state legislators, said President of the Board Robert Brown.

"The sad part is, there's nothing we can do. The state mandates we do this," he said. "It's dysfunctional, it doesn't make any sense."

Editor's note: Details about the rules applying to laying off administrators was added at 3:53 p.m. on Feb. 22 and at 12:52 p.m. on Feb. 23.