OJAI : Schools to Lay Off 3 Teachers’ Aides

The budget crunch is reaching into classrooms at the Ojai Unified School District.

A budget presented to district trustees Tuesday night calls for the layoff of three teachers’ aides--two in music in the fifth and sixth grades and one math aide at Nordhoff High School.

One janitor’s job will not be filled and substitutes will not be called when employees other than teachers are absent, officials said.

Leo Molitor, the district’s assistant superintendent for business services, said several educational programs are being cut as well. They are driver training, a remedial reading course for elementary students and a drama and yearbook course at the high school.

Also, transportation for athletic teams is being cut, and Molitor warned that the situation may worsen. Another $48,000 must also be cut before the district’s $13.5-million budget is adopted for next school year.

In addition to the impact of a state budget shortfall, the school district is being hurt by a new county fee for collection of property taxes and a reduction in state lottery income, Molitor said.

The district anticipates income of more than $13.1 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1, compared with expenditures of $13.5 million. The difference will be made up with money carried over from this year.

The proposed new budget reflects a $288,196 cut in revenues and a $122,000 reduction in spending.