SCHOOLS FACE STAFF CUTS MOST TEACHERS SAFE, BUT OTHERS AT RISK.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Cash-strapped school districts throughout the Santa Clarita Valley are pink-slipping nonteaching personnel to bridge millions of dollars in lost state funding expected in the coming fiscal year.

A survey of Santa Clarita's five school districts found as many as 47 classified positions - such as bilingual instructional aides, clerks and custodians - have been cut. Both Newhall and Castaic Union school districts moved last week to shed the jobs.

``I understand the budget is a concern,'' said Linda Metzger, co-president of Newhall Education Support Personnel Union. ``But I know there are a lot of long-term employees that are really upset.''

Staff layoffs remain under review at Saugus and Sulphur Springs school districts. But officials said workers should expect at least reduced hours for 2003-04.

No classified layoffs were planned at the William S. Hart Union High School District, and administrators are betting attrition and rising enrollment will preserve jobs.

Throughout the valley, growth has largely spared teacher jobs and continues to fuel the need for classrooms. About 17 teachers and administrators were pink-slipped in March, but officials said most will likely have work for another year.

``We don't want to affect people's livelihoods,'' said Superintendent Robert Nolet of the Sulphur Springs School District. ``But our job is to educate kids.''

Balancing the state's estimated $38 billion deficit has meant deep cuts for California schools. Last week, Gov. Gray Davis proposed slashing $1.5 billion from grades K-12 for the 2003-04 school year - down from some $2 billion announced in January.

For local school districts, this means projected losses of $800,000 to $1.5 million in student funding in the coming year.

The Newhall school board cut 33 staffers - including 22 classroom aides - last Tuesday to save about $200,000. Officials said the move would offset an expected 25 percent loss to ``categorical'' funds, which funded programs for struggling and gifted students.

``These positions are tied to categorical funding or a grant,'' said Beverly Knutson, assistant superintendent of personnel. ``We anticipate 25 percent deferral or cuts in categoricals next year.''

But staff union officials said the district, which is cutting employees with up to 12 years' experience, may have acted too swiftly. Davis and the Legislature have until the end of June to finalize the state budget, and school officials need only give 30 days' notice for classified worker layoffs.

``They're really jumping the gun with these layoff notices before they know what's going on,'' Metzger said. ``I would like to see the Newhall School District be a little more sensitive to the amount of people and the programs that they need to reduce.''

Newhall Superintendent Marc Winger said the job cuts were necessary, with the district facing reductions of up to $1.5 million.

``This budget crisis is really horrible, and we're just going year to year,'' he said. ``We're taking a prudent step. If it gets worse, we'll go deeper, but if it gets better ... they would be rehired for the position if we reinstate it.''

The Castaic Union school board also voted to shed 14 positions - including five classroom aides - last week. Confronted with losses of up to $800,000 for 2003-04, officials are trying to save about $400,000 through a combination of layoffs, work-hour reductions and energy conservation.

But just six employees received pink slips - the remainder were posts that had been vacant since the district instituted a hiring freeze in December. And the final number of layoffs could be lower when Northlake Elementary opens in August, Superintendent Beverly Silsbee said.

``Some positions are being terminated, but these people could be assimilated at the new school that is opening,'' she said. ``If there is attrition, we're hoping no one will have to be laid off.''

Meanwhile, Sulphur Springs' superintendent said the district would consider cutbacks and layoffs at a board meeting Wednesday.

``Our goal is to be in a position where we can adjust to what happens,'' Nolet said. ``Without question, we're going to reduce hours.''

But with the district projecting losses of up to $1.5 million in state funding, staff cuts could be hard to avoid.

``Certainly (nonteaching staff are) a benefit to the teachers and classrooms they're working with,'' Nolet said. ``But we need to stay within the dollar.''

For the 1,250 classified workers in the Saugus Union School District, layoffs remain undecided.

``It's too early to tell,'' said Rick Grove, assistant superintendent of personnel. ``We're still collecting the data. We're very supportive and appreciative of what our classified staff has been doing for us, and we're trying desperately to stay away from layoffs.''

Classified staffers at the Hart district appeared relatively unscathed by the impending budget cuts.

``We're not planning layoffs at this point,'' said Michael von Buelow, assistant superintendent of personnel. ``We have frozen some hiring, and we will be using normal attrition to vacate positions.''

With a new junior high scheduled to open in fall and more than new 1,000 students expected to enroll in the district over 2003-04, officials are trying to prevent layoffs by redeploying existing employees.

``We're making some transfers from other schools to the new schools in the next couple years,'' von Buelow said. ``More students means more needs for teachers. It means we have an opportunity to use current staff.''