School Budget Cuts 100 Jobs, At-Risk Program : Education: The school board refused to slash salaries of teachers and administrators. More trims are anticipated because of unexpected revenue shortages.

Almost 100 jobs and a program that targets troubled youth will be eliminated under a $107-million budget adopted Tuesday by the Glendale Board of Education.

The board, which is fiercely divided over the cuts, voted 3 to 2 to slash $6.3 million in order to balance the district budget, which state law had required by June 30.

Further cuts loom. Assistant Supt. Stephen Hodgson said Tuesday that the district expects to receive $200,000 less in state funds this year than anticipated, which will force the board to make new trims.

Board member Charles Whitesell called Tuesday’s meeting “one of the most difficult I have attended,” adding that “this is one of the most agonizing decisions in the seven years on the board that I have had to make.”

Whitesell joined board members Blanche Greenwood and June Sweetnam in voting in favor of budget cuts recommended last March by school Supt. Robert Sanchis. The three said they were not willing to reduce the salaries of teachers and administrators in order to save student programs.

Although they prevailed, the debate has opened a rift in the board.

Board members Jane Whitaker and Sharon Beauchamp, who cast the opposing votes, argued that the student programs could be saved if the board reduced salaries of the district staff.

“Our students are our programs,” Beauchamp said. “When we mess up our priorities and use the programs as a means of balancing our budget, I think our priorities are in the wrong place.”

The debate over whether to cut salaries or student programs has raged for most of this year. A PTA president launched a recall effort against Whitesell, Sweetnam and Greenwood in May after the three said they supported Sanchis’ plan to balance the budget.

Two weeks later, the three board members sparked anger when they opposed an idea to set up a broad-based community task force to re-examine potential budget cuts.

Dozens of disgruntled parents, students, teachers and staff have attended a series of budget meetings to resist the sweeping plan that slashed school positions and programs across the board. On Tuesday, it was approved anyway.

The 1992-93 district budget trims $371,631 from the highly touted At-Risk dropout prevention service, leaving less than $130,000 for a scaled-back program.

“That was a very important program and it met the needs of a very important segment of our student body,” Beauchamp said. “I’m sorry that this board couldn’t see the need for it.”

The approved budget also shaves 43 teaching positions through retirements, resignations and leaves of absence for a savings of $1.7 million. As a result, class size will increase from 31 to 33 in junior high schools and from 32 to 34 in high schools.

In addition, the budget:

* Pares four of the 25 counseling positions for a savings of $168,600.

* Shrinks the work year of some elementary school principals from 11 months to 10 1/4 months for a savings of $56,000.

* Cuts nearly 21 classified positions and reduces the hours or work requirements of 30 other jobs.

* Reduces the number of coaches by 25% for a savings of $75,000.

* Trims lunch hours for elementary children from 45 minutes to 35 minutes to save on supervision cost.

Said Sanchis: “Our greatest concerns or fears are becoming a reality.”