Los Al Unified Lays Off 300 Classified Employees, Waiver Received

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — It was a somber meeting when Los Alamitos Unified School Board members gave the unanimous vote to lay off nearly 300 classified employees. Those laid off will receive 60 days of severance and benefits, Sun Newspapers reports. Lack of funds was the reason behind the layoffs, according to the board. But will the acceptance of the in-classroom waiver change things?

Due to the decision, 290 people will be out of a job come October, largely due to not having students on campuses.

The classified employees were downsized as the district "realigned their overall staffing needs," Sunnews.org reports. Unlike transportation workers, custodial or food service employees all protected by the state, classified school employees are not safe from cuts.

According to Dr. Joe Fraser, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, the Los Alamitos "staffing needs with distance learning greatly differ from our staffing we need with students on campus."

With Los Alamitos Unified School District receiving their waiver to return to on-campus TK-6th instruction, as of Thursday, it is yet to be determined how this will affect the layoffs.

Patch has reached out to the district and will update this report when an answer is received.