Pine Bluff Interim Superintendent T.C. Wallace Jr. said he apologized Monday to certain employees of the Pine Bluff School District for the manner in which they learned they will lose their jobs because of declining funding.
Sixty-eight Pine Bluff School District employees will lose their jobs in June as a result of an impending closing of two school buildings. The district implemented a reduction in force policy to determine which people are losing jobs.
“With the declining enrollment and fiscal constraints and closing of schools, a reduction in force was necessary,” Wallace said. “The administration extends an apology to all staff who found their names in the newspaper following the board meeting prior to school district notification.
“The human resources department is responsible for informing employees [of losing jobs due to the reduction in force],” Wallace said. “The following morning those individuals would have gotten the notice from the human resources director.”
The Pine Bluff School Board voted unanimously Tuesday, April 21, to approve the reduction in force policy list, which outlined the layoffs and also outlined the job reassignments that will be made as a result of the closings of Oak Park Elementary School and Southeast Middle School at the end of the current academic year. The board voted March 3 to close the schools because of declining enrollment and a subsequent drop in funding.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Some employees are losing jobs at Oak Park Elementary, Southwood Elementary, Broadmoor Elementary, Thirty-Fourth Avenue Elementary, W.T. Cheney Elementary, Belair Middle, Jack Robey Junior High and Pine Bluff High schools. In addition, some custodians and administration building employees are also losing their jobs.
Wallace said he stands behind the reduction in force list as accurate. Wallace said he heard from two employees who were upset with being reassigned.
“I am not aware of employees being upset [with the reduction in force decision],” Wallace said. “We believe the packet is accurate and we presented an accurate scenario.”
Pine Bluff School District Human Resources Director Mary Harvey did not return a message Monday.