TEMECULA -- Some Temecula school teachers are unhappy that some less experienced educators have been put on an exempt list and could avoid potential layoffs because they coach varsity sports.

On Friday, about 300 employees in the Temecula school system were to receive preliminary layoff notices as the district looks to cut $9.2 million from its 2009-10 budget.

Layoff notices went to teachers with as many as five years of experience in the district, those notified said.

Among the targeted positions are 13 ninth-grade math teachers and one high school social science teacher. Layoffs are for positions, so a veteran high school teacher could be moved to middle school and a less-experienced educator laid off.

High school math, business and social science teachers with varsity coaching experience were put on a list of those exempt from layoffs, as were Spanish, French and physical education teachers with dance authorization.

Also exempted were special education teachers and counselors, teachers on special assignment, Temecula Valley Charter School teachers, program specialists and site administrators.

A group of 18 Margarita Middle School teachers gathered after classes Friday to express concern about the exemptions. Many in the group had received layoff notices earlier in the day.

"We just want to see it done based on the (Education) Code," eighth-grade teacher Marvin Morton said. "Last in, first out. We don't see anything in the law about extracurriculars."

The teachers were not critical of any specific coach, they said, just the process.

Math teacher Stephan Stamatelatos is hoping the school board will revisit the exemption list before final layoff notices are issued in May.

"We just want to make sure it's fair," said Stamatelatos, who, like Morton, received his notice Friday.

The exemptions are warranted, said Chris Cordner, assistant superintendent for Human Resources Development for the Temecula Valley Unified School District.

"We look at filling head varsity coaching positions as difficult. Just like finding special education teachers is difficult," Cordner said.

Six teachers fall under the coaching exemption and all six received preliminary layoff notices Friday, according to Cordner.

Cordner said coaching and other positions are open to all teachers in the district.

"We advertise all of our positions," he said. "We've had a few teachers say 'I could go into special ed.' Great, but you haven't. When it came available, you declined. At this point, people start thinking 'what if.'"

Cordner said the dance teacher exemption was added because last year, the dance program at two of the district's three high schools would have been threatened if their instructors were laid off.

Last year, the district sent out 211 preliminary layoff notices and 82 final notices. Eventually, all of the teachers were hired back.

Morton, who received a layoff notice last year but was spared as math and science teachers were exempted, said there are plenty of people who can coach.

"These are jobs that can be filled," he said. "Do you want a coach being a teacher or a teacher being a coach?"

Stamatelatos, a football coach in San Marcos, agreed.

"There are a lot of qualified people for these positions," he said. "There aren't people to step in and fill in for math teachers. There are people who can step in and fill coaching jobs."

Mike Rowan, the athletic director at Chaparral High School, said it's sometimes difficult to find coaches for the 21 sports programs on his campus.

"It takes me months sometimes to find coaches," Rowan said. "There have been times where I've come right up to the week before the season and I haven't had a coach for a team."

Rowan said instructors such as coaches, band directors, drama and dance teachers all add to the high school experience.

"It's an extension of the classroom," Rowan said. "If any teacher on campus offers valuable services to students, I think it's worth an exemption."

Rowan said one-third of the district's high school students participate in athletics, which in the top intervention program to keep students in school.

The potential layoffs come as school districts cope with shrinking state revenues.

Andrea Farrow, in her 18th year as a math teacher at Margarita, said the teachers realize that money is tight.

"The (school) board doesn't have any control over money. What they have (control over) is fairness over the cuts," Farrow said. "We just want the process to be fair."

Contact staff writer Craig Shultz at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or cshultz@californian.com.