Can the district close the budget gap by eliminating only vacant positions?
A. Even if we eliminated every vacant position, we do not expect to have enough vacancies in 2009-10 to close an operating deficit of $9.2 million or more. In addition, some vacant positions are critical and will need to be refilled. Eliminating some vacant positions will help, though. Currently, the district plans to eliminate 22 vacant positions, including nine faculty positions, one administrative position and 12 classified positions. As new positions become vacant in the months ahead, the campuses and Central Services will carefully evaluate whether the jobs need to be filled. The district will have to hire a limited number of people for vacancies because of our internal needs and state requirements. For example, the state requires the district to maintain a minimum number of full-time faculty in relation to enrollment size, or face a financial penalty. We will hire some faculty to avoid being fined.
