LOS ALAMITOS : Teaching Jobs Cut to Balance Budget

The Los Alamitos Unified School District, forced to make additional trims to balance its 1993-94 budget, has cut seven teaching positions that will affect classes offered to middle and high school students.

Traditionally, students at Los Alamitos High School and McAuliffe Middle School may petition for another class when they have conflicts in their schedule. That may no longer be the case this fall, according to district business manager Ronald Murrey.

Murrey said students will have to take the class the next year if teachers are not available.

He said the teachers affected by the cuts will not be laid off but will be transferred to fill vacancies in the district. By eliminating the seven teaching positions, the district saved $220,000, Murrey said.

The district saved an additional $420,000 by laying off 15 teaching aides, eight clerical employees and eight custodians in an effort to cover a $574,820 budget deficit, Murrey said.

The district adopted its $33.07-million general fund budget Aug. 16.

Murrey said that this is the fifth straight year that the district has had to grapple with a deficit. Over that period, the district’s budget has decreased by more than $5 million, he said.

Next year, the district has to find sources of revenue other than the state allocation to avoid deeper cuts, Murrey said. He said the school board is forming a citizen panel that will look at future funding for the district.

The panel, composed of parents, school administrators and community leaders, will be formed in September and start work in October, Murrey said.