AUHSD cutting budget

Anaheim Union High School District trustees gave tentative approval to budget cuts totaling $5.9 million in response to the state's $6 billion cut in education spending. Thirty-five full-time employees and one part-time employee were given preliminary notices that they may be laid-off by June 30. Those employees that were given notices ranged from program administrators, psychologists, teachers on special assignments, librarians and a nurse. No permanent teachers were given notices. "The first premise was not to take teachers out of the classroom," said Barry Escoe, district director of human resources. "The choices are to deal with management, non-management, administrative positions and teachers on a temporary contract," Escoe said. "It's also based on seniority." Some district employees asked the board to reconsider their choices, particularly the possible lay-off of a registered nurse. Pat Gladysz, a Hope High School health services technician, asked the board to keep Jane Kelly because she "is an asset to Hope." "I know that the budget has a restriction and times are tough," Gladysz said at the meeting. "Our students at Hope High School have restrictions. For them life is tough." Many Hope High School students have multiple disabilities. The school will still keep the rest of the nurses employed by district, but Gladysz argues that Kelly is as important as the rest. "Jane Kelly is not only a highly skilled nurse that has exceptional affection and compassion for our students but a nurse that has stayed at Hope and has committed herself to meeting the needs of our students," Other changes in the district include reducing the number of substitute teachers, extra-conference periods for teachers, restructuring clinical social outreach programs, restructuring alternative education, and cutting summer school administrative positions.