DISTRICT'S CUTS MUST GO DEEP TEACHER LAYOFFS MAY BE NECESSARY TO MEET STATE'S BUDGET MANDATE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Financially troubled Westside Union School District must make $3.3 million in cuts in next year's budget to maintain a 3 percent budget reserve as required by the state, Westside officials said.

A total of $2.8 million could be saved by laying off teachers, although the district has not made a final decision on whether to let teachers go.

The budget figures were contained in a financial report the district was required to send to Los Angeles County this week showing where the district plans to make cuts to help maintain solvency.

``The county required with this submission of the second interim report a list of contemplated cuts, what were verifiable board actions,'' interim Superintendent Regina Rossall said.

Westside last week said it was considering laying off teachers because one of the cost-cutting options being weighed is increasing class sizes in the lower grades.

Under state law, school districts must notify teachers and other certificated employees by March 15 that their job might be considered for elimination.

Layoff notices were sent to about three dozen teachers. Also targeted were 24 teachers with temporary credentials, who do not require March 15 layoff notices but 30 days' notice.

Although the reduction in teaching staff would save Westside $2.8 million, that figure would be offset by the loss of state funds if the district decides to do away with smaller class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, trustee Gwen Farrell said.

Westside's budget report includes a disputed 3 percent raise to employees, which district officials say the board has not approved but which teachers union officials say Westside is required to pay.

Westside officials had trouble figuring out the amount of financial reserves the district had at the end of the past fiscal year. About half the extra money is supposed to go to employees as bonuses or increased salary or benefits because their contracts entitle them to half of any extra funds that come in.

The Westside Union Teachers Union filed a grievance last week over the district refusing to pay the 3 percent raise. The union also has pending a unfair labor practices charge against the district telling teachers they must pay increased health-benefits costs.

Farrell said Westside does not have the money to give the raise.

``If we give that and can't mitigate the deficit that we have, we will end up in bankruptcy. At that point, they could end up losing a lot more. The district can't really afford the 3 percent raise,'' Farrell said.

Kim Collins, teachers union president, said the union is seeking a guarantee of a 3 percent raise in the future.

``We are willing to negotiate what the 3 percent looks like. We are not going to give it up without some contingency language for the future,'' Collins said. ``It's not all about the 3 percent raise. It's about health and welfare benefits that they have held us hostage with and are threatening to deduct.''

The board at Tuesday's meeting adopted the second interim budget report and certified it as ``qualified,'' meaning the district might not be able to meet the 3 percent financial reserve requirement in one or both of the next two years.

The county in January notified Westside that it was unable to concur with a ``positive'' certification of the district's first interim report and downgraded it to ``qualified.''

The county said Westside overestimated revenue projections and underestimated spending.

Rossall said a Westside fiscal advisory committee was preparing a list of more cuts for the board to consider. Options mentioned include going to a traditional school calendar, revising special-education operations and evaluating the operation of Leona Valley School, which has fewer than 100 pupils.

A final list of cuts is due to the county by June.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com