The Anaheim Union High School District, which sent out more than 200 pink slips to district staff earlier this year, said it decided to cancel the layoffs earlier this month.
In March, the district sent out 226 layoff notices to district staff—including 119 to teachers—saying such was necessary due to the decline of both funds and enrollment.
The announcement received backlash from the district’s community, including from teachers, parents, and the local teachers’ union. In April, the district reduced the number of teacher layoffs to 62.
But in a May 10 statement, district Superintendent Michael Matsuda and the president of the teacher’s union, the Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association said there would be no layoffs after all.
“Since March, members of our District community have advocated to maintain the district’s current staffing levels as they are,” the statement said. “After deep consideration and dialogue among stakeholder groups, the board of trustees has decided to rescind its previously approved decision to reduce permanent and probationary teachers.”
Enrollment in the district has declined by nearly 5,000 students since the 2011–12 academic school year, according to district officials during a March board meeting. They also said the enrollment drop is expected to double within the next five years.
The district currently has 28,000 students enrolled, according to data from last year.
The president of the union, Geoff Morganstern, told local news outlet Voice of OC that about 50 teachers are leaving the district at the end of the current school year because of retirements, resignations, or the end of temporary contracts.
In the announcement, Mr. Matsuda and Mr. Morganstern said they are committed to offsetting the enrollment decline by making other reductions and cuts in the district.
