Union Protects the Rights of Members During Layoff Hearings: Day One

By Matt Corcoran & Ed Sibby

ASTA Communications Director & CTA Communications Consultant

ANAHEIM - ​Public schools are in turmoil in Anaheim where administrators from Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) began official layoff procedures during a Reduction in Force (RIF) hearing held Tuesday, April 23 at Katella High School’s Royal Crown Theater.

The morning hearing began with Administrative Law Judge Eric C. Sawyer introducing counsel for the 253 teachers who received a RIF notice following a March 7 vote by the AUHSD Board of Trustees. Anaheim teachers were supported by three CTA attorneys and one staff person.

District attorneys acknowledged that mistakes in their layoff list may have occurred, and that adjustments will be made with the direction of the sitting judge.

District council spent the first several hours explaining the criteria for laying off teachers. AUHSD Director of Human Resources Scott Jensen was called to testify as to why some Anaheim teachers have been skipped over and others left off the list. District representatives created 29 exemptions to the layoff list, throwing the process into unprecedented confusion as some employees with decades of service were noticed while relatively new employees were “skipped” on the list.

Anaheim teacher Greg Chastain has worked various teaching assignments since he was hired in 2003. Now an AUHSD Independent Studies teacher, the 21 year veteran faces a layoff based on the district’s proposed “skip criteria.”

Day one ended with little progress and much confusion.