District approves layoffs of classroom aides

Marissa Espino

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Seven regular and bilingual classroom aides will be

laid off because of lack of work and funds, the Huntington Beach City

School District unanimously agreed at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

The layoffs were recommended by district staff because of funding changes

in the School Improvement Program and federal funding changes at Dwyer

Middle and Kettler, Perry and Peterson elementary schools for the

1999-2000 school year.

Kathy Kessler, the district’s assistant superintendent of personnel

services, said the employees with the least amount of seniority will be

notified within the next week.

“We hope that normal attrition will reduce the number,” Kessler said.

“Any time you have to do something that affects someone’s employment,

it’s done as a last alternative.”

In the past, federal money for helping low-achieving students was

distributed equally among the four qualifying schools. Now those funds

will be distributed to schools based on the number of students who

receive free and reduced lunches.

Although Perry will benefit from the change, the other three schools will

not.

The state-funded School Improvement Program was affected because of

school boundary changes resulting from the opening of Huntington Seacliff

Elementary School. Program funds are distributed on a per-pupil basis, so

schools that will experience a drop in enrollment will receive fewer

funds. District officials expect only Smith Elementary School to be

affected.

In other action, the school board approved an employee contract between

the district and the California School Employee’s Assn.

The district employees -- including secretaries, custodians, and

maintenance workers -- will receive a 2.45% raise that is retroactive to

July 1.

Several changes to the 1999-2000 budget also were presented to the board,

which show a significant increase in funding.

The district will receive $274,000 in unrestricted funds, $296,000 in

special education funds and an additional $300,000 for several specific

areas, including school safety, instructional materials and

transportation.

The board also approved increasing the daily pay rate for substitute

teachers from $85 to $95 a day. Teachers performing extra duties beyond

normal expectations also will receive an hourly rate increase from $12 to

$20 an hour, which brings the district up to the Orange County average.