Dallas school district lays off 63 staffers

DALLAS (AP) - The financially troubled Dallas school district, facing an $84 million shortfall this fiscal year, has begun laying off employees and eliminating vacant positions.

The district on Monday laid off 63 staffers from the central office and eliminated about another 100 unfilled jobs, school officials said. All the positions were for employees working without contracts, so the layoffs did not require school board approval.

The school board has so far refused to give Superintendent Michael Hinojosa the go-ahead to lay off contract employees, which include teachers. He has recommended the district eliminate 1,209 positions, including 675 teachers.

The school board is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss Hinojosa's plan. They have said they want more details before letting teachers go.

"As I told the board of trustees last week and the week before, it costs the district approximately $1.5 million each week there is a delay in addressing this deficit," Hinojosa said in a written statement. "As the district's chief executive officer, it is my duty to take whatever immediate, prudent and financially responsible action I am empowered to take to address this matter and save the district dollars."

DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said the cuts Monday are effective immediately and came from several departments, including technology, business services and dropout prevention. Fired employees will receive one month of severance pay.

Dallas TV station WFAA reported Monday that Nevada's Clark County school district, in anticipation of layoffs in Dallas, is planning to send recruiters to Texas in an effort to fill 400 vacant teaching positions in Las Vegas.