Pressure Builds for Burbank School Board

Someone forgot to budget $1.3 million for special education, a superintendent dismissed for unknown reasons may sue, a multimillion-dollar budget deficit threatens jobs, and some parents are attempting to recall school board members.

No, this is not Los Angeles Unified, but Burbank Unified School District.

A number of community members, teachers and Burbank city officials say they are losing confidence in the district’s Board of Education, which may be facing its biggest challenges in a decade.

The controversy comes at a time when Burbank schools are undergoing more than $100 million in modernization construction and have experienced three years of rising standardized test scores. All of its eligible campuses--11 elementary, three middle and two comprehensive high schools--have been honored as California Distinguished Schools for their high academic achievement and community support.

But the district also is facing a $3-million deficit, its largest in 10 years. With decreasing tax revenues, school districts nationwide have experienced severe budget shortfalls, most notably L.A. Unified, which must slash $428 million.

Although Burbank’s deficit amounts to only 3% of its $100-million budget, only $20 million can be restructured to find a solution. The remaining $80 million is allotted for teacher salaries, which are specified by contract, and instructional programs, which are state-mandated, district officials said. The board must finalize its budget by June 30.

“We have to weather this storm,” interim Supt. Greg Bowman said. “We have an obligation to provide education. It’s going to be very difficult, and it won’t come without pain.” Possible solutions include reducing the support staff--secretaries, custodians and maintenance workers--or cutting school supplies.

The district’s board rejected a $700,000 allocation from the city, viewing it as just a short-term solution, said Burbank City Manager Robert R. “Bud” Ovrom.

District officials say the financial shortfall resulted from rising costs for workers’ compensation and employee medical insurance, compounded, according to an annual audit, by mismanagement in several areas.

A fiscal management team, now disbanded, left the district’s $15-million special education budget short when it neglected to budget $1.3 million for the 2001-02 year. District officials blame the oversight on human error.

Last month, David Aponik was dismissed as superintendent, a post he held for eight years, and offered a job as a school psychologist.

The firing of Aponik, a popular superintendent credited with many of the district’s recent improvements, and the lack of explanation for his dismissal angered many residents and teachers. The board said policy prohibited the public discussion of personnel matters.

“No one said we didn’t like Dr. Aponik,” said school board President Elena Hubbell. “It became an issue of performance and what had to be done was best for the district. It can’t be a popularity contest.”

The board and Aponik, who have exchanged letters in the local newspaper, the Burbank Leader, dispute almost every detail surrounding the dismissal.

Aponik said he was treated maliciously and given no warning, an allegation that Hubbell denies. Aponik said he was forced to take a leave of absence. Hubbell said his time off is voluntary.

“If you want to destroy somebody’s career, you do what they did to me,” said Aponik, who added he is upset that he won’t be able to confer his 18-year-old daughter’s diploma as superintendent at graduation this year.

Aponik filed a claim April 3 against the board, alleging wrongful termination, denial of civil rights and public humiliation. If a settlement is not reached by May 18, the 45-day deadline set by law, Aponik said he probably will sue.

The attorney for the school district, Richard Currier, said the claim has “no merit whatsoever.”

The dispute has galvanized residents, who now fill board meetings that used to be held in a near-empty auditorium. Some residents, upset with school district turmoil, are attempting to recall the five-member school board.

“Those California Distinguished Schools didn’t come about because of our school board,” said PTA member Britta Hamrick, one of 10 who signed a petition to begin the recall effort. “It’s because we had a great leader in Dr. Aponik. The board [members] are almost farcical figureheads.”

A recall effort could take as long as a year and would require thousands of signatures. With three board members up for election in a year, the effort may go for naught.

In addition to parents, the Burbank Teachers Assn. voted no confidence in the board and also is seeking answers in Aponik’s dismissal.

“You think in a smaller school district there would be more accountability,” said the union’s co-president, Diana Abasta.

Ovrom said that while Burbank historically has been supportive of the school district, the board’s handling of the superintendent’s dismissal has caused concern among city officials.

“We’ve done a lot over the years” for the schools, Ovrom said. “Whether there’s the political desire to do that now, I’m not sure.”

Mayor David Laurell said the city is willing to provide help as long as it’s viewed as a supplement, not a bailout.

Burbank is looking into offering the school district cheaper energy rates, Laurell said.

On campuses, it was business as usual this week as the nearly 20,000 district students were taking Stanford 9 standardized tests.

“We’re lucky out here at the school site that we’re somewhat removed from the turmoil,” said Gail Copeland, principal of Miller Elementary School and a 41-year veteran of the district.

She said she’s confident the district will soon overcome its current problems.