Derek R. Smith, Daily Reporter

GREENFIELD – Teachers union representative Jeff Sincroft remains hopeful Greenfield-Central can reach a breakthrough in collective bargaining, even as the district moves forward with identifying and notifying teachers whose jobs are on the chopping block. 

    “We agree with them that we want to see teachers (laid off) as a last resort,” Sincroft, co-vice president of the Greenfield-Central Classroom Teachers Association, said Tuesday. “A lot of people are on the edge of their seats worrying about their employment next year.” 

    On Monday night, the G-C board voted unanimously to move forward with the process for laying off as many as 14 teachers in an effort to meet the district’s funding shortfall. It’s a process that will involve an examination of seniority and teaching licensure. Superintendent Linda Gellert could bring a list of names to the board in April. 

    A layoff at G-C could also include support staff, Gellert said. However, the support staff have “made a strong appeal that they’d be in favor of being paid less rather than losing their job,” she said. 

    Teacher concessions, on the other hand, must be negotiated through collective bargaining. 

    At least some of the 14 jobs can be saved if there’s a breakthrough in teacher union negotiations. 

    G-C administrators have agreed to some concessions, including a 1 percent pay cut. Sincroft calls this a “positive step” for further negotiations. 

     The G-C board approved four cost-cutting motions Monday night, including a motion to move forward with a “reduction in force.” 

    Also, the board approved a recommendation to enact cuts presented at last month’s community meeting that amount to an estimated $859,484. This cost-cutting will involve reducing supplies and worksheets, shifting to electronic correspondence, assessing $50 athletic participation fees and $10 non-athletic participation fees, and not rehiring staff who are retiring or resigning, among other things. 

    Third, the board approved a recommendation for reducing utility expenses by 20 percent to save an estimated $250,000. This will involve designating heating and cooling temperatures, reducing public access to G-C facilities, and closing schools on weekends and over the summer months. 

    Finally, the G-C board approved a motion for support staff and administrator concessions valued at $134,681. It involves freezing the support staff’s incremental raise, offering an early retirement incentive for support staff and reducing the base salary of administrators and school board members by 1 percent.