No layoffs for Eastern Valley schools

The Coachella Valley Unified School District announced this week it won’t be laying off its employees for the 2012-2013 school year due to the budget. In the past four years the district admitted it’s made some deep cuts, lowering the morale of both teachers and students. Superintendent Darryl Adams said he’s had enough.

“It’s a united effort and we are excited to tell our parents and students that our teachers will be back next year,” said Adams.

One of those teachers is Alexis Lanza, a sixth-grade teacher at Cesar Chavez Elementary and the former president of the teacher’s union. Lanza said there was a sigh of relief from she and her co-workers.

“It’ll be nice to know this will be our home for another year, instead of wondering where we’re going to be next year,” said Lanza.

Nearly 2,000 CVUSD employees, including teachers, classified personnel and administrators will be keeping their jobs. However, that’s not the case for the other two school districts in the Coachella Valley.

On March 15, Palm Springs Unified is expected to send out 19 pink slips, and Desert Sands Unified School District — more than 80 notices. They have until May 15 to finalize their layoffs.

Calling it one of the poorest districts in the nation, Adams said CVUSD is trying to keep cuts as far away from the classroom as possible by adjusting its budget and minimizing costs elsewhere with hopes the November tax initiatives will help along the way. If the intiatives don’t pass, the district says it’s prepared.

“We’re going to look for ways to continue to be efficient with our budget, our funding, making sure we’re getting support to our classrooms where the action happens,” said Adams.

Lanza said next school year the district will finally “be able to focus on what’s important — the education of our students.”