Clark County School District notifies teachers of possible layoffs

The Clark County School District has begun sending out notices to teachers warning them of potential layoffs.

Fewer teachers are expected to be needed next year because of a drop in enrollment and an increase in class sizes.

Enrollment for the nation's fifth largest school district is expected to go down more than 9,000 students to about 300,000 next year, according to district spokesman Michael Rodriguez. In addition, class sizes will be increasing by three students in anticipation of the funding cuts.

Even before the projected enrollment drop, district officials had estimated that they might have to cut anywhere from 2,500 to 5,600 jobs to balance a funding shortfall of $250 million to $400 million .

The district employs 38,500 people, including 18,000 teachers.

T he district is following its standard procedure for adjusting teacher staffing based on enrollment projections for next year by sending out the notices.

Emily Aguero, the human resources director of licensed personnel, refused to estimate the number of excess teachers .

It's left to the principal to determine the staffing of a school, she said.

Based on data from a past budget document, increasing class sizes by three students would eliminate the need for about 1,000 teachers in grades 1-12.

Once all school positions are filled, a reduction in force would be declared by early June if there's still an excess of personnel. Teachers with the least seniority would be the first let go.

Teachers could still be hired back for the 2011-12 school year if additional job openings are created by retirements and employee turnover, enrollment is larger than anticipated or if funding improves.

Ruben Murillo, the president of the Clark County Education Association, noted "it's still early in the process."

"We're hoping that towards the end of the year teachers receiving these (notices) will not be reduced in force," Murillo said.