Schools to rehire some laid-off teachers

anacortes_schools.pngThe School Board approved the actions at its meeting Thursday night.

Superintendent Chris Borgen will get no pay raise next school year, with his salary remaining at $132,319. In addition, he agreed to make a personal donation of $4,000 back to the School District. He paid $2,000 of that back in May. Plus, he will take 5 furlough days without pay, valued at $3,000 and will not cash in 20 unused vacation days, valued at $12,000. And, his travel allowance has been cut. Reductions total $23,323.

School District Business and Finance Director Lisa Matthews told the School Board that a combination of retirements, resignations and federal stimulus money will allow the district to re-hired 5 teachers laid off earlier.

Matthews said 2 half-time teachers will be rehired for pre-school special education program, one full-time teacher will return to the middle school and two full-time teachers will return to as-yet undecided assignments.

In addition, 7 positions remain open, which allows the school district some leeway as school enrollment for September becomes better known. School Superintendent  Chris Borgen told the school board “Because we have a RIF (Reducation in Force) list, it’s easy to bring people back.”

When the district cut $3 million from the upcoming school budget, it cut 19 teaching positions, 1.8 administrator positions and 21 classified positions.