Long Beach : School Custodial Staff Cuts to Save $1.5 Million

There will be fewer custodians to clean classrooms next fall as a result of a school board budget cut this week.

The board Monday agreed to reduce its custodial staff by 10%, eliminating 37 jobs through attrition as part of a package of cuts that will save the Long Beach Unified School District $1.5 million.

Last month, the board cut $8.7 million, mostly by eliminating 39 clerical and managerial positions through attrition and an early retirement incentive for administrators.

The cuts begin the budget process, which is expected to continue later this spring when the board reviews the 1990-91 budget, estimated at $350 million.

Board members avoided more controversial suggested cuts, including a plan that would have scheduled students and teachers for 7:18 a.m. classes. Board members also dismissed the idea of eliminating a music program at the elementary schools or increasing the average classroom size by one student.

In addition, the board nixed a proposal to mandate physical education for 11th-graders, which would have eliminated about 10 new teaching jobs. Staff members suggested the change because physical education classes can accommodate almost twice as many students as a regular class, thus eliminating the need for some elective courses.