Pomona Unified Laying Off 260

On Wednesday the Pomona Unified School District near Los Angeles sent out the first of 266 layoff notices to both teachers and classified employees. The district is currently slated to lay off 209 teachers and 57 other employees, but it is hoping to decrease those numbers by the time the final budget is submitted.

“We want to try to save as many jobs as possible,” said District Director of Personnel Services Darren Knowles.

The district is facing a $36 million budget shortfall in the 2010-2011 budget. Board member Andrew Wong noted that personnel costs amount to 89% of the district’s budget and that balancing that budget would be impossible without layoffs.