BUENA PARK : Schools Lay Off 24 to Balance Budget

The Buena Park School District laid off 24 classified employees this week despite protests from spouses and co-workers of the typists, custodians and others workers. The vote cut 25 full- and part-time jobs from the payroll for the 1992-93 school year.

More than 80 people in attendance at the Monday night meeting hoisted black balloons in the boardroom to signify the “black cloud that will be hanging over all of our heads,” said Barbara Michel, president of the California School Employees Assn. Chapter 569.

But board members, citing the worst budget year in memory, unanimously agreed to the layoffs and lamented that they may have to make even more cuts when the state passes its fiscal 1992 budget. “It brings no pleasure to anyone to do this,” said board member Elizabeth Swift. “I’m praying for a miracle that the state budget is not as catastrophic as we expect it to be.”

The school district so far has cut $837,000 in salaries, school supplies, textbooks and other materials to balance the 1992-93 budget of $17.9 million. However, a proposal by Gov. Pete Wilson to slash $2.3 billion in education funds could force the Buena Park School District to slash $1.8 million in the coming year.

Michel said the school district rejected several union proposals to reduce spending in other areas and avoid the layoffs this year. One of those ideas included a 1% pay cut for all school district employees.

Supt. Jack Townsend, as well as assistant superintendents Gary Cardinale and Sandra Barry, agreed to give up their district cars in exchange for a monthly $300 mileage allowance. Townsend said the move will cost him and the two administrators about $4,000 per year each. He did not know how much it would save the school district.

The budget reductions were small consolation for the employees who have lost their jobs. They are hoping for an increase in retirements or job consolidations that will allow them to return to work, even on a part-time basis.

“As far as I know, I’m out of a job totally,” said Donna Atwood, who for 12 years has worked as a clerk/typist in the maintenance department at district headquarters. “There won’t be anybody to answer their phones or do their typing for them as far as I know. It’s sad. I think that’s the real word for it.”

Olga Guerrero will still have her part-time job as a bilingual assistant, but her job as a community liaison helping parents and students find food and clothing and translating for bilingual parents was cut. Parents and students who need help understanding the school system will be the ones to suffer, she said.

“Yes, I still have my job as a bilingual assistant, but being the community liaison is so important. Communicating with the parents is so important,” Guerrero said.