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More than 260 Brentwood teachers

could face layoffsMarch 15, 2010 by JOHN HILDEBRAND / john.hildebrand@newsday.com

School authorities in Brentwood, Long

Island's biggest district, announced Mondaythat more than 260 teachers face potentiallayoffs there - the latest of a dozen localsystems that have acknowledged possible

 job losses in June.

In a memo issued to the district's 3,000employees, Brentwood officials say that

they are facing a $37-million budget hole and indicate that at least 146 jobs could be lostthrough a combination of retirements, resignations and layoffs, even if local unions agree tomajor pay concessions.

Other districts where school or union leaders have indicated substantial potential layoffs:Comsewogue, Hempstead, Island Trees, Islip, Lindenhurst, Middle Country, Northport-East

Northport, Patchogue-Medford, South Huntington, Three Village and William Floyd.

Across Long Island and the state, unionleaders are seeking to reassure teachers

that many layoffs could be rescinded, if lawmakers, as expected in an election year,restore school-aid cuts proposed by Gov.David A. Paterson. Moreover, state officialsare suggesting that districts could avoidmany staffing cuts by digging into their cashreserves.

Even if the state school-aid cuts arerestored, Brentwood would still facesubstantial job losses, however, and that'sstirring widespread anxiety.

"We're prepared for the worst," said JoeHogan, president of Brentwood's 1,400-member teacher union.

Hogan added that district authorities had told him job losses there could go as high as 400.That number, if it materializes, would be the highest to emerge on the Island this year.

Vincent Lyons, a New York State United Teachers union director for Suffolk, said Monday the joboutlook for teachers would not be clear until state lawmakers adopt a budget. "We're tellingthem, don't panic at this point," said Lyons.

In Brentwood, administrators declined to confirm the local union's estimate of potential job

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losses. But a memo issued in the afternoon by Superintendent Donna Jones indicates thatlayoffs could rise well above 260, because that figure assumes the teachers' union will makeat least limited contract concessions, such as a salary freeze or deferred raises.

Hogan said he would discuss possible concessions with teachers later this week.

Jones' memo adds that the district must make $37 million in cuts next year. Her rationale isthat cuts are needed to compensate for a projected $3-million loss in state aid and to meetrising costs of salaries, pensions and other expenses. Brentwood's budget this year is $307.3million.

"This is a very difficult position, because the community cannot stand a double-digit taxincrease," the superintendent said in an interview. "But if we all work together, all share thepain, then we can work something out that won't overburden this community and that willminimize job losses."

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