Conejo Valley Unified School District recently rescinded about 30 percent of its layoff notices.

But 71 teachers and counselors were told they wouldn't be coming back to CVUSD next year, although the district can still rehire them.

Five secondary school teachers, nine counselors and 57 elementary school teachers had their pink slips confirmed, which, by law, had to happen by May 15.

In March, 110 layoff notices were distributed to teachers and counselors. The CVUSD school board voted to rescind 39 and confirm 71 of the pink slips at a recent meeting.

"We've confirmed that at this point they don't have a job next year," said Dep. Superintendent Jeff Baarstad. "But if the state budget turns out to be better than everybody thinks it's going to be, we can still hire them back.

"We won't be able to bring everybody back, but the bestcase scenario would be bringing back half. Worst case would be none of them. I'm not sure. The numbers we keep getting are worse and worse."

Baarstad said if teachers or counselors work until the end of the year and are hired back over the summer, their benefits and seniority wouldn't be affected.

"It will be like it never happened," said Baarstad.

Layoffs were determined by seniority, and some elementary school teachers were let go, despite having been teaching for more than five years.

"Our elementary schools have been shrinking over the years, so there are very few new teachers," Baarstad said. "That's why we had to go back so many years."

On the other hand, more teachers from Sycamore Canyon and Newbury Park High School were affected because the schools have grown and newer teachers have been brought on. The Open Classroom program at Conejo Elementary was also hit hard because four of its seven teachers are fairly new.

Some groups of teachers may be exempted from the seniority rule; for example, special education teachers, because of their different skills, weren't laid off. Teachers from the Open Classrooms program, a specialized magnet, have maintained they should be exempt.

"Within a school day, we are handling multiple levels of learners and dealing with several different curriculums," said Lori Peters, who has taught in the Open Classrooms program for 14 years. "As teachers we are really in charge of managing the program. We are hoping you consider the needs of a special program in the district."

Baarstad said he was well aware of the success of the program and had wanted to keep it "intact."

"You can skip certain kinds of positions regardless of the budget," Baarstad said. "It came down to whether or not a particular kind of instructional approach like Open Classrooms—could that be considered different enough? It doesn't require a specialized credential, but they were selected in a special process."

Baarstad acknowledged the special skills of the teachers but said ultimately the board didn't think excusing them would hold up if there were a hearing that challenged the decision.