Teachers laid off in school budget limbo

Most school districts around Whitman County passed out layoff notices this week, meeting the May 15 state deadline for Reductions in Force (RIF) notification.

An uncertain state budget for education led many school districts in eastern Washington to make estimates on the amounts of layoffs needed to balance their budgets.

However, when the final education budget from the state emerges in another few weeks, many of the staff members who received a RIF notice could be hired back.

“I don’t know if I can say a majority, but many of our school districts are having to RIF employees. I think some of...