SCHOOL NEWS VEXES CROWD CLASS SIZES TO GET BIGGER.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Class size was one of many issues raised Wednesday night at Crescenta Valley High School, where more than 200 parents were warned about the potential impact of dramatic state budget cuts.

It was the first in a series of community meetings in the Glendale Unified School District hosted by Superintendent Jim Brown to outline the local effects of Gov. Gray Davis' proposed cuts.

Although the governor's specific cutting proposals are far from being ratified, Brown foresees a number of major areas - including class size - where the district should be prepared to take major hits.

``We need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario,'' Brown said, ``And Davis' plan is the worst case scenario.''

``There will be fewer adults available to work with your child. There will be fewer programs from remediation to enrichment to tutoring,'' Brown said.

A cutback in personnel is the last thing parents want to see, according to Stacy LeDuc, who has two children in Glendale district schools.

``One of the main reasons we moved to this area was for the schools,'' LeDuc said. ``If class size goes up, the kids are going to pay the price.''

But according to Brown, fewer personnel and more students per teacher might be inevitable.

``Eighty-five percent of our budget is in personnel. We cannot make a $10 million cut without cutting people,'' Brown said. ``School districts play it close to the vest in the first place.''

Davis' proposal could have the Glendale Unified School District shaving $5 million off the 2002-2003 budget and $10 million off the 2003-04 budget - what amounts to a 7 percent cut, officials said.

While painting this bleak picture of the financial outlook for Glendale public schools, Brown encouraged parents to contact their legislators to oppose the education cuts.

Brown will be giving the same presentation at 7 tonight at Glendale High School and at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at Hoover High School. Spanish, Korean and Armenian translators will attend.

``We want to make sure that our needs are communicated to the Legislature,'' said district spokesman Vic Pallos.

LeDuc, a member of the Mountain Avenue Elementary School PTA, had already signed a letter to Davis.