Hacienda La Puente : School Board Cuts Budget

The Hacienda La Puente School Board has voted to pare $2.7 million from its 1988-89 budget, but it still must find another $1.8 million to cut from the $118-million spending plan.

The board will meet tonight to discuss its options for further spending reductions.

The board voted 4 to 1 on June 23 to cut the budget by $2.7 million, in part by reducing financing for bilingual education support staff, school nurses and intermediate school counselors. Board President William Torres voted against the budget proposal, saying he opposed the staff cuts for the bilingual education program.

Supt. James E. Johnson had proposed more than $3.1 million in spending reductions, but the board reinstated $425,000 in expenditures after students, parents and teachers argued against cutting library services and instrumental music instruction at public hearings last month.

Nonetheless, the district still must trim 85 positions from its payroll, including 11 1/2 classroom teaching positions and two management posts. Many of these positions will be eliminated through attrition, but some layoffs may be necessary. The board may have to consider even more personnel reductions to cut the required $4.5 million from its budget, said Asst. Supt. John Clonts.

“The board will have to consider all options for further cuts,” Clonts said. “I don’t think anything is ruled out at this stage.”