Jeffco Public Schools lays off 50 employees as it cuts 139 total positions

Fifty Jeffco Public Schools employees received notice this week that their positions will be eliminated at the end of this school year. The cash-strapped district also eliminated another 90 positions that are open or coming open later this year due to retirements, according to an announcement posted on the Jeffco Public Schools website. In total, Jeffco is cutting about 139 full-time equivalent positions within departments in the district’s central office. The 50 people who are being laid off were notified throughout this week, the notice said. “These decisions are painful,” the announcement said. “They affect people we care about, colleagues we respect and work that is meaningful. This is a difficult moment for them and for the teammates who work with and care about them. As we move through this moment, we acknowledge the human impact of these decisions.” The budget plan also calls for service cuts across several departments within the district, including: Fewer menu offerings for breakfasts and lunches Custodians will be required to clean larger areas, and some cleaning that is not critical to human health will take place less often Some repairs may be delayed Longer response times for computer problems, slower repairs and replacements, and less training for technology Less professional learning support for educators Less centralized support and coaching for the staff providing social-emotional learning, restorative practices and health support The reductions are the first phase of the larger budget process for the next school year, the announcement stated. Budgeting at the school level…

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