Parlier Unified cuts 17 teachers and staff to avoid red ink

Parlier Unified will lay off or buy out 27 teachers and staff to avoid a deficit next year, Superintendent Edward Lucero announced Monday in a letter to parents.

Lucero blamed the reductions on Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget for 2016-17, and the loss of district grants. He acknowledged in the letter that the layoffs should have come last year, but that staff hired under these grants were allowed to stay for an additional year, knowing that their assignments were temporary.

His letter to parents said the district will eliminate 13 elementary teachers, six secondary teachers, four administrative positions and will offer a $15,000 retirement incentive to four other elementary teachers.

Additional eliminations are being considered for the 2016-2017 year.

“Without taking the necessary steps needed to be fiscally solvent, Parlier Unified would have started the 2017-2018 school year in $408,411 in the negative,” Lucero said. He added that travel and conference costs have also been reduced.

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 9:21 PM with the headline "Parlier Unified cuts 17 teachers and staff to avoid red ink."