School District Cuts 43 Aides and Clerks

Chipping away at a projected $4-million budget deficit, the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District has laid off 43 part-time classroom aides and clerks.

The layoffs will save about $270,000 in the $90-million budget, Assistant Supt. Robert Diaz said.

Diaz said the district would give top consideration to rehiring the employees for 33 similar positions that have become available since a hiring freeze was enacted in June.

Since the eliminated positions were distributed among the district’s 24 schools, the loss of the aides and clerks, including four bilingual aides, will have little effect on students and teachers, Diaz said.

The school board voted 6 to 1 in favor of the layoffs, with Jesse Luera dissenting.

“My concern is that in economically deprived areas, teacher aides are very important in the classroom,” Luera said. “Especially bilingual aides.”

Betty Myers, president of the employees union, said she felt that in light of the budget crisis, the board was justified in ordering the layoffs.

“Its unfortunate, but you so can’t cut teachers, or programs, so that leaves the classified staff.”