Other Factors Come Into Play in School Cuts

Jeffrey Miller’s article on teacher raises in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District is somewhat misleading and needs to be clarified (Times, June 9). Not once is there any mention that district administrators, who received a 3% raise for this year, will receive an increase equal to the teachers’ 8.8% over the next two years.

Additionally, classified employees settled their contract in May for an 8.1% increase, and their “me too clause” entitles them to any additional increase, in this case, the .7% needed to match the 8.8% received by the teachers. In essence, the teachers are bargaining not only for themselves, but also for classified employees and administrators.

An argument that has been heard repeatedly during the 15 months of negotiations is that the school district’s enrollment continues to decline. Now, in an attempt to curb rising costs, cuts may be made in positions for instrumental music teachers, nurses and librarians. Not once has there been a reduction in administrative personnel.

Out of 29 school districts in Los Angeles County with a student population of more than 10,000, Hacienda La Puente ranks third in the number of assistant superintendents. However, an additional assistant superintendent’s position has been added during the 15-month negotiating period.

As Supt. James E. Johnson stated in a June 6 study session, “Desperate times call for desperate recommendations.” Why not keep the positions closest to the classroom and cut administrative positions, which have the least contact with what is most important, our students?

LAURIE HELM

West Covina