Jordan School District says it will lay off 500 employees

WEST JORDAN — Jordan School District is cutting 500 employees — including 200 teachers — to slice $30 million from its budget.

The board plans to decide by the end of March what jobs will be axed, as well as which school programs are to be eliminated. The layoffs, which are 10 percent of the staff, will come prior to July 1.

"We're going to do it because we need to do it. We don't like to do it," said Jordan District superintendent Barry Newbold.

"We know it affects students, teachers and people's lives," he said. "But we have to balance the budget."

The district intends to:

Cut administrative positions by $2.5 million.

Eliminate, reduce or change programs by $11 million.

Cut classified positions by $3 million.

Cut non-classroom teacher positions by $1 million.

Increase class size by an average of four students, saving $12.5 million.

High school teachers would lose their prep period and teach an additional class to mitigate class size increases.

Parent Carolee Mecham, who has four children in Jordan District, said it will be the kids who suffer. "It's horrible, absolutely horrible," she said.

Jordan District has 2,631 teachers and 2,610 support staff. The layoffs will mean fewer teachers; larger class sizes; fewer adults in schools in support roles, such as secretaries, counselors and custodians; fewer assistant principals; and fewer support staff in the district office.

The district announcement comes as state lawmakers are beginning to piece together the state budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1. State revenue numbers are expected to be in by Tuesday. After that, final statewide budget decisions will be made.

District spokesman Steven Dunham said the district isn't acting too early. "This is not jumping the gun when we already know what our shortfall is. Rather, it is being proactive about some very tough decisions," he said. "The state may decide to make additional cuts. If that happens, the board is prepared to take additional measures to remedy the additional budget deficit."

Those measures would include employee furloughs, pay cuts and a property tax increase.

District officials say the budget shortfall involves $20 million from using up its rainy day fund for this school year; $6 million, or 3 percent, in cuts predicted to be handed down by the state; $2.4 million from opening and operating the new Herriman High school; and $800,000 to offset the increase in district funding for employee health insurance.

The board voted 6 to 1 Tuesday to approve its budget cut plan.

Lone naysayer board member Rick Bojak said he voted no because he believes the district needs to take other measures before cutting teachers.