LYNN – The Lynn Administrators Association will join teachers and independent administrators from the School Department in working one day without pay if the School Committee votes to allow it this week.The union’s president, Lynn Transportation Director David Hegan, confirmed Friday that the group voted to accept one unpaid working day in a meeting Thursday, one day after the teachers union did the same.The Administrators Association is comprised of department heads, curriculum staff and guidance councilors from the district. Independent administrators such as school principals and Superintendent Catherine Latham have also reportedly agreed to take an unpaid day.The School Committee will meet Wednesday night to decide if they support the efforts of the teachers and administrators to take the day without pay across the board in place of layoffs. While the decision may seem like an easy one on the surface, a “yes” vote from the committee is not a given.Part of the Teachers Union’s agreement to take the unpaid day is a condition that if any teacher retires in the next three school years, they will be reimbursed for the day off in their payout. In addition, the union has asked to be reimbursed for the day if President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus package results in $500,000 more for the School Department in fiscal year 2009.School Committee Chairman Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. is on record as saying he supports the working day without pay, but not if the teachers required a pay back, and has also said he would only support the day if all unions in the city agree to do it.Clancy does not have the final say in the decision, which requires a majority vote from the School Committee.Latham sent out approximately 120 layoff notices across the district Thursday morning to make up for a $500,000 cut in the School Department budget – layoffs that could be reversed if the School Committee votes in favor of accepting the unpaid day.If the committee fails to support the effort, several classrooms would be combined and teachers laid off effective March 16, just before MCAS testing is scheduled to begin.
