Orange Schools to Cut 28 Teachers : Education: The district hopes to save $1.5 million. But the layoffs will increase class sizes to at least 32 in the fall.

In a move that will increase class sizes next fall, the Orange Unified school board voted Thursday to lay off 28 teachers.

The district, which faces a $2.5-million deficit, hopes to save $1.5 million with the layoffs, said Joyce Capelle, Orange Unified’s financial director.

The layoffs are considerably fewer than the 97 teachers, counselors, library aides and school nurses initially anticipated in February. Still, they will mean that average class size at the junior high and high schools will increase from 29 to 32, according to district estimates.

The vote was 5 to 1, with Maureen Aschoff opposed.

“Parents have asked us not to increase class size and lay off teachers,” she said. “It’s a difficult issue, but we have to respect what we hear from the community.”

Board member Al Irish abstained.

“There are friends on this list--teachers of my children,” he said.

The board agreed to discuss further cuts in closed session on June 10, in hopes that some of the 28 teachers won’t have to be laid off after all.

“Whatever we do tonight I do not consider the final action by the board,” Trustee Robert Viviano said.

Orange, with 26,000 students, is one of three districts in Orange County laying off teachers or other classroom workers this year. Ocean View Elementary, headquartered in Huntington Beach, is laying off two teachers, and Westminster Elementary has given pink slips to 42.

At El Modena High School, Principal Gail Richards contends that the layoffs will actually boost class size to 38 students because the district’s accounting includes non-teaching personnel and does not take into account teacher preparation periods.

“I’m looking at class sizes of up to 40 students,” Richards said. “We are just out of money.”