Economy Forces Reduction in Hours for School District Employees

Changes will be made in the work schedules for 31 school district classified employees in an effort to save $139,575 annually. Ramona Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution for the reduction in hours and work year at a special meeting May 9.

The affected positions include bilingual para-educator, instructional para-educator, attendance/health technician, secretary II, health technician, campus safety officer, computer lab assistant, clerk I and library technician.

Betsy Bargo, president of the classified employees union, read a statement to the board prior to the vote, calling the move “unnecessary.”

“The savings won’t begin to solve the budget problems of the district,” she said. “If these reductions are made, we will be asked to do something else later,” referring to cuts in salaries. “Why cut now and again later? The folks getting the reductions will be hit twice. That doesn’t seem necessary. Our unit has suffered many reductions and lay-offs in the past few years but the workload remains the same.”

Board president Rodger Dohm told Bargo after the resolution was passed that it was a difficult decision for the trustees.

“Your voice didn’t go unheard; it was definitely heard,” he said. “It’s very frustrating for us to do this. We really have no money and it’s going to get worse.”

The board also approved the appointment of Pauline Leavitt to the position of principal at James Dukes Elementary School, effective July 1. She has served as assistant principal at Olive Peirce Middle School for four years.

The current Dukes principal, Paige Schwartz, resigned from her position due to family obligations. She will be reassigned as a classroom teacher.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting is at 7 p.m. May 19 in the Wilson Administration Center, 720 Ninth St.