LVUSD Classified Workers Agree to Furloughs, Pay Cut

Las Virgenes Classified Association (LVCA) members have agreed to take furlough days and a 1.6 percent pay cut for the 2010-11 school year, which will save the Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) nearly $800,000.

The board of education approved the agreement Tuesday during a special meeting.

Classified workers, who are non-teaching employees and work 181 or 182 days a year, will take six furlough days during the upcoming school year.

Classified employees who work more than 181 or 182 days will take nine furlough days, according to a staff report.

The furlough days as well as the 1.6 percent pay cut will save the LVUSD a combined $796,616 for 2010-11, said Karen Kimmel, the district's chief business official.

A similar agreement between teachers and the school district was reached in May and will save the LVUSD about $2.3 million for the next school year, she said.

Earlier in the summer, the LVCA protested the prospect of pay cuts.

"We didn't think we were going to have an agreement for a long time," said Supt. Donald Zimring.

Board members were grateful for the LVCA's cooperation.

"We appreciate the sacrifice our employees are making," said board member Lesli Stein. "We know this was tough. We just wanted to publicly thank our classified employees."

A representative from the LVCA was not present at the meeting.