Alhambra : School Demographics Study

Although more than 50% of Alhambra public school students are Asian-American, less than one-fifth of the school district’s staff is of Asian descent, a new study shows.

A district report issued last week shows that about 18% of the 3,814 Alhambra Unified School District employees are Asian-American, compared to more than half of the system’s 20,729 students. The Asian-American percentage populations of Alhambra and San Gabriel, where most of students live, are 37% and 31.9% respectively.

Latinos make up 32% of the district’s employees, while whites constitute 47.4% and blacks 1.9%.

Supt. Heber Meeks said the district has made progress in recruiting an additional 63 Asian-American staff members since 1985.

“We’re on track with our goals of trying to get as many minority and bilingual staff as possible,� he said.

Meeks said part of the recruiting problem is that only in recent years have the children of first-generation Asian-Americans finished college and become available to teach.

“We need role models for all our students,� he said.

The district has only one Asian-American high school administrator, John Gao, dean of students at Alhambra High School.

Asian-Americans account for a little more than 10% of those in administration.

A 17-member affirmative-action committee formed early this year in response to community concerns about racial tensions at the school sites will meet this summer to set goals for recruiting.