Clark County School District warns of 800 additional layoffs by mid-July

The Clark County School District might lay off as many as 800 employees by mid-July to remedy its remaining $150 million budget shortfall for the 2011-12 fiscal year, officials said Thursday.

The layoffs would be in addition to the 639 job cuts in support staff and administrative positions that the district already has planned for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Superintendent Dwight Jones made it clear at a School Board meeting that preventing the new round of layoffs depends on whether employee groups accept concessions worth $56.6 million, which could include furlough days, freezing pay raises based on longevity and education, and passing along a pension rate increase.

Formal labor talks are expected to start soon.

Ruben Murillo, president of the Clark County Education Association, which represents district teachers, said district officials are posturing to strengthen their bargaining position.

"They’re obviously laying the groundwork for the worst-case scenario," Murillo said. "I can see the writing on the wall. They’re going to blame teachers and other employee groups for not making concessions."

Murillo said district officials could consider other alternatives, such as a hiring freeze, to minimize job cuts.