About 80 staff members including 45 teachers in Victorville will lose their jobs as the Victor Valley Union High School District seeks to close a budget shortfall and avoid a state takeover of the district.
At a special session on Saturday, the school district’s board approved the layoffs, scheduled to begin as early as April 26, 2013.
"Today is a very sad day in the district," said Superintendent Elvin Momom. "It impacts families, individual lives, the community. It has been very emotional."
School librarian, Christina Averman was shocked.
"I asked them, are you laying me off? And they said yes," he said. "I started crying."
The budget cuts come at the recommendation of San Bernardino County-appointed financial advisor, Michele McLowry. If the district doesn’t prove it can lift itself out of debt, McLowry said a state takeover will start Feb. 13, 2013.
"If significant borrowing doesn’t occur, they will be $19 million in deficit by June," she said.
