Vacaville – In another sign that California is finally starting to recover from the great recession, after 5 consecutive years, Vacaville’s public school teachers will not receive layoff notices this year.
In what has become an annual rite of passage for some teachers: the announcement of potential layoffs on March 15th, the final notification of layoffs on May 15th, and the hope for a rescission over the summer will not happen this year.
“It’s been really unsettling,” said Aja Cook, an English teacher at Vacaville High School. “This year, for the first year ever, I’ll be able to focus on my teaching, instead of having to look for other ways to pay my mortgage.”
Vacaville Unified School District John Niederkorn, when announcing this good news during the March 7th school board meeting, cited the passing of Prop 30, increased student enrollment, and past concessions from employee groups as reasons for VUSD being able to avoid issuing layoff notices for the 13-14 school year.
“I couldn’t be happier,” said Moira McSweeney, president of the Vacaville Teachers Association. “By working collaboratively, we’ve been able to preserve vital programs and avoid the upheaval and uncertainty that comes with pink slips. Finally, as a community and a state, we’ve turned the corner and are heading in the right direction.”
