Lynn Teachers Union approves furlough day

LYNN – The Lynn Teachers Union voted Wednesday in favor of working one day without pay in an effort to save the jobs of their colleagues. In a vote taken at Lynn English High School nearly the entire group voted loudly in favor of taking a much-talked about furlough day to help spell a $500,000 cut in the teacher salary line in the fiscal year 2009 budget.Facing a $2.7 million fourth quarter cut from Gov. Deval Patrick, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. has spread the reduction across every department in the city, shaving the school department budget by $1 million.School Business Administrator Kevin McHugh has said he can cut half of that amount in non-salary reductions, but the other $500,000 would have had to come from laying off teachers, support staff and administrators.Taking the furlough day was done under the condition that any member of the bargaining unit that retires through the Massachusetts Teacher’s Retirement System or through the city’s retirement system during or following the conclusion of either the ’08-’09, ’09-’10 or ’10-’11 school years shall be reimbursed the furlough day at the individuals ’08-’09 daily pay rate.In addition, the union voted that if funding from the federal stimulus package – believed to contain money for special education, Title 1 and school building repair in Lynn – equals or exceeds $500,000, then teachers will not take an unpaid day of work.By approving the furlough day, the Teachers Union has taken the next step in avoiding layoffs across the department, but the vote does not necessarily make the idea a reality just yet.The School Committee must still vote in favor of the furlough day next Wednesday, a decision that is not a given as Clancy, who is committee chair, has been reluctant to accept the furlough day if the teachers demand reimbursement for the day at the end of their contracts.Clancy, vacationing in Ireland this week, was not available for comment Wednesday.Because the School Committee was forced to delay its meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday night, to next Wednesday, layoff notices will still go out Thursday morning.If the committee votes to accept the furlough days next week, those layoff notices should be rescinded.In addition to the teacher’s decision, most other school department employees have also agreed to, or are preparing to vote on a furlough day along with their colleagues from within the classroom.In a vote Tuesday, department clerks agreed to take the day and administrators from throughout the district may soon follow.While principals and high level administrators such as Superintendent Catherine Latham and Deputy Superintendent Jaye Wary are not union employees, sources say that all independent workers have agreed to take the day as well in support of the teachers.The Administrators Union, compiled of department heads, guidance councilors and curriculum employees will vote on the issue Thursday afternoon, and President David Hegan said early indications are that his membership is leaning toward voting in favor as well.While the furlough days will save teachers and keep classrooms in tact for the remainder of the school year, layoffs could still be on the horizon for next year, as administrators turn their attention to the fiscal year 2010 budget.Gov. Deval Patrick has said he would keep funding for Chapter 70 education level next year, but the lack of revenue and increase in unemployment statewide could hurt funding in other areas, ultimately affecting the schools in Lynn.