VVSD to Hold Hearing on Reduction in Force

will hold a public hearing before its Monday, March 26, board of education meeting on plans to cut more than 500 jobs for the 2012-13 school year — at least temporarily.

According to a notice issued by the district, the cuts include 401 certified personnel, or teaching staff, and 162 classified positions, such as paraprofessionals.

Board president Steve Quigley said the majority of the layoffs are part of the district’s annual reduction in force (RIF) process. That means most of the cuts will not be permanent, since the positions will be brought back before the start of next school year.

“I would venture to guess that a very large percentage would be called back,” he said, but acknowledged that this year’s RIF affects a larger number of employees than in recent years.

According to Sharon Hawks, the district's executive director for human resources, the RIF will affect first- through fifth-year teachers.

"A lot of those would be called back," she said, estimating that under a worst-case scenario, 30 to 40 teachers would not be called back, along with 30 to 40 teachers' aides. 

Hawks said the district is taking a look at modifications to some of its programs and is still determining the staffing levels needed for next year.

Modifications to the Illinois School Code require the district to hold a public hearing on the reduction in force due to the number of affected employees.

Under Senate Bill 7, districts conducting a reduction in force that affects more than 150 percent of the average of the number of employees affected in the previous three years must hold a hearing. 

The public hearing is scheduled to take place at 7:30 p.m., before the start of the regular board meeting, on Monday, March 26, at the Valley View administrative center, 755 Dalhart Ave., Romeoville.