Watch Out For CCSD Teacher Layoffs

Today, an arbritator ruled in favor of the Clark County teachers union in it's dispute with
CCSD administrators.
From the LVRJ: Within weeks, an undetermined number of local teachers will receive the dreaded pink slip and won't be returning to their classrooms next fall because of a reduction in force, the Clark County School District announced today, responding to an arbitrator's decision that requires the district to give raises to teachers for seniority and continuing education credits. The district had sought to avoid paying raises to remedy a severe budget shortfall.
"While some teachers will receive raises, other teachers will receive pink slips and that's not what's best for our students," Superintendent Dwight Jones said. "That's not what's best for our students."
The decision on keeping or setting aside raises was left to an arbitrator because the Clark County Education Association, which represents district teachers, and the district couldn't reach agreement on the 2011-12 and 2012-2013 contract terms of 18,000 teachers. Union officials refused to allow teachers to take a pay freeze - as the district's 19,000 other employees have done - and claimed it wasn't necessary. However, Jones has asserted since the summer that a pay freeze must be endured by all to balance the budget and prevent layoffs.
Union President Ruben Murillo has repeatedly claimed that a union-hired accountant has found $63 million in the district's budget to cover teacher raises for 2011-13. The threat of layoffs is a bluff, he said.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/school-district-arbitrator-s-decision-will-lead-to-teacher-layoffs-149837285.html
On one hand, the administration has claimed financial distress but yet they hired many people throughout the year, including numerous administrators.  At the classroom level, we really haven't seen much difference from last year in terms of money allowed for classrooms and teachers.  And if the administration had won, they would have demanded thousands of teachers to reimburse the district thousands of dollars each for the raises we have gotten and he arbitrator probably took that into consideration.
But the union also is showing it's greedy side.  It would not have cost that much to take a pay freeze for a year or two to help with the district's finances in these financial troubled times.  Just about every public sector in the state and local governments have had their employees take a pay freeze or pay cut in the past few years.  Everyone except the teachers.
So, what will happen?  I think there will be a large number of lay off notices going out in about 2 weeks and by the end of the summer, it will turn out that very few, if any teachers will be laid off.  The reasons?  First, sales tax receipts are up and part of that money will find it's way down to the school district.  Then when you have so many retirements and resignations thrown into the mix, there will be many job openings within the district.
Sadly, there will be some resentment towards teachers from other CCSD unions because the other unions gave up pay raises and benefits and they will see the teachers not sacrificing.
One final thing: It is possible that CCSD and other local governments will go to Carson City and try and get legislation similar to Wisconsin's Act 10 passed.

* FYI, I belong to the CCEA and am a special education teacher in CCSD