South San Antonio Independent School District is facing tough choices as it struggles with a $12 million budget deficit, and the solution may come at the cost of jobs. In a recent move, the district's board has granted Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre the authority to enact layoffs to shore up finances, as reported by KSAT. The district, which has about 1,200 employees, needs to eliminate 20 positions, though these reductions would notably steer clear of elementary school staff.
As the district contends with falling enrollment that's driven a multi-year budgetary shortfall, its board voted unanimously for a financial exigency resolution, a legal step necessary to proceed with the staff cuts. Superintendent Yzaguirre, aiming for efficiency, “At this particular time we are about 20 teachers and, two administrators over where we need to be to be efficient," he stated during the board meeting. If alternatives fail and they cannot find placements for staff after the consolidation resulting from the West Campus High School closure, the Reduction in Force plan would become the final option, KENS 5 reported.
The proposed layoffs have met resistance from the South San American Federation of Teachers, whose executive director, Tom Cummins, argues that the district is acting prematurely. In a letter sent to the school board, Cummins voiced opposition to the RIF, stressing that the typical number of retirements and departures should account for the required reduction in staffing. Cummins also raised concerns regarding the reliance on substitutes and temporaries, “There is a teacher shortage, and South San has vacancies that are being filled by low-pay substitutes, as well as the new category of teacher called the 'temporary teacher,' even though there does not appear to be anything temporary with them, as they have been working for months now,” he highlighted in the letter obtained by KENS 5.
The union has suggested that the administration should seek additional federal grants and hold off on any personnel reductions until potential further state legislative actions, such as funding bills, are clear. Cummins believes the district should invest most of its efforts into student recruitment programs to compete with charter schools, rather than cutting staff, “South San AFT has been suggesting recruitment programs since 2016, to no avail. Our union has ideas regarding recruitment of students and would like to work with the district to implement an active recruitment program,” he told KENS 5.
If layoffs become inevitable, Superintendent Yzaguirre expressed confidence that affected staff could still find comparable positions within the district. He ensured, "We’re confident we’ll have the opportunity to place all staff in a position, or a comparable position to what they’re in at this particular time," signaling hope for those who might find themselves facing the uncertainty of unemployment.
