View full sizeAloha High School math teacher Michelle Moore gets a hug from Bri'ana Jordan on the last day of school. With only two years of experience in the Beaverton School District, Moore doesn't expect to keep her job as the district cuts teacher positions, based on seniority and licensure. The
is in the process of laying off 204 teachers, counselors and other licensed staff.
The district finalized the numbers Wednesday and principals began calling those on the list Thursday, said Sue Robertson, human resources director.
Calls should be completed by the end of this week. The layoffs touch nearly all programs and subjects from math to special education, Robertson said.
The number remains fluid as more people resign over the summer and others are added back to cover increased enrollment, she said. But it is higher than the 150 people projected to be laid off.
"We were hoping to keep it below 200, Robertson said. "We'd like not to do it at all."
Some of those on the list may have known it was coming because they were new employees. But Robertson said, "I don't know that people are ever prepared for this message."
Layoffs are based on seniority and the subjects the educator is licensed to teach. The vast majority of Beaverton's teachers with one to three years of experience lost their jobs, but the cuts also extended to some teachers with four to 12 years of experience, according to district information.
There are about 2,300 teachers in the district of 39,000 students.
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No classified staff will be laid off because those facing job loss chose to work shorter hours or for less pay. Teachers didn't have that option, according to information sent to district employees. Classified staff, which include secretaries, food services, instructional assistants and custodians have also been cutback previously.
The district sent out fact sheets Thursday morning to all employees, explaining the process and offering a list of openings at other area school districts for those who are laid off.
Another 365 teachers will be transferred to another school or will be teaching a new subject or grade level. Principals are also contacting them, Robertson said.
Principals were trained on how to deliver the bad news, Robertson said. They were told to give the information in a factual manner, don't try to build false hope, make it succinct and let them process the information. They are not contacting anyone via email and those who can't be reached by phone may find a voicemail asking them to contact their principal.
, which is different than the actual number of people being laid off. That number included jobs being cut to part time and not filling some positions that were empty.