PARENTS CALLED ON TO SUPPORT CASH STRAPPED SCHOOLS
For principals in Highland Park and Mount Washington, the first day of classes were a time to welcome back students and face new challenges.
WORDS AND PHOTO: BY DAVID FONSECA, MT WASHINGTON/HIGHLAND PARK PATCH | HTTP://BIT.LY/RKRL0J
8 Sept 2011 - After only one full day of classes, principals of several local elementary schools said they are already facing the challenges presented by the nearly $408 million in cuts made by the Los Angeles Unified School District Last spring.
For Juan Gonzalez, principal of Garvanza Elementary School, the district's budget crisis meant the elimination of the school's supervisors, who were responsible for monitoring student behavior during lunch and recess hours.
"Today was the first rude awakening point," according to Gonzalez, who said he ended up spending two-and-a-half hours supervising students himself.
Gonzalez joked that the day's extreme heat, which touched 102 degrees, played a key role in slowing down the normally rambunctious elementary school students
"The heat definitely slowed them down," he said. "We just don't have the staff to supervise properly right now."
Marco Nava, principal of Annandale Elementary School, said a lack of supervisors was also felt on his campus.