Newest Va. Beach teachers warned layoff is possible

VIRGINIA BEACH

The public schools' newest teachers are being warned today that their contracts might not be renewed next year because of the city's budget crunch.

The 640 teachers are in their first, second or third years with the city schools, so they have not yet received the continuing contracts that give Virginia teachers greater job security. That means if layoffs happen, they could be the first to go.

"We hope we don't have to take such drastic measures, but we owe our employees the courtesy of knowing that's a possibility," said Kathleen O'Hara, a division spokeswoman.

For the past two years, the schools have sent a letter like the one going out today to first-year teachers only. But this time, those in their second and third years also are being warned.

It's a sign, school officials said, that the budget situation is worsening.

"We've been pretty fortunate at buffering our parents and communities," Superintendent James Merrill said. "We're going to have to pay up this year. It's finally hit us as well."

For months, division leaders have been predicting a shortfall in 2012-13.

On Wednesday, they said it's approaching $40 million. The schools' operating budget this year is $636.1 million.

When Merrill presents his recommended budget to the School Board on Feb. 7, he said, he'll present a number of plans that would involve staff reductions.

Mayor Will Sessoms - whose daughter is a first-year teacher in Virginia Beach - said he's hoping the schools can accomplish any reductions through attrition, as they have in the past.

But Merrill said that might not be enough this year.

For example, if he needs to reduce each high school department by one position, it's unlikely one person from each department will retire or leave voluntarily.

The division is required by law to notify teachers early of possible layoffs, and doing so now will give the division greater flexibility in making decisions, Merrill said.

John Mirra, head of human resources for the schools, said the problem is, 85 percent of the division's budget is for personnel.

It's going to be difficult to make up the shortfall without affecting people, he said.

Dominic Melito, president of the association that represents Virginia Beach teachers, said the group will be telling people to contact the General Assembly and put pressure on the City Council to fund schools.

Any layoffs would be a result of under-funding education at the state and local levels, he said.

"It's unfair to these new teachers," he said.

Elisabeth Hulette, 757-222-5097, elisabeth.hulette@pilotonline.com