Azusa Unified Cuts One-Third of Adult Education Classes

With Azusa Unified School District looking at a budget gap of up to $5 million if tax initiatives don’t come through this November, the school board voted to cut one-third of its adult education program during Tuesday’s school board meeting.

The cuts will save the district $1.1 million, according to Director of Communications Kathleen Miller.

Classes on the chopping block include parent education, automotive repair, floral design, citizenship, and some senior and computer classes. The district also plans to reduce some of its English and GED courses, said Miller.

The board also approved cutting more than 170 instruction hours per week, totaling a 30 percent reduction to the program.

Miller said six permanent employees, seven part time employees and one administrator will lose their jobs while several others will see a reduction of hours.

, 1134 S. Barranca Ave. in Glendora, currently offers 99 classes to 4,103 students.

“We have no way of knowing if the tax initiatives will go through. These cuts are based on a worst case scenario,” said Miller.

The cuts were a difficult, but necessary decision, said Miller.

“We had to make cuts to adult education to maintain K-12 education,” she said.

Azusa Unified serves 10,300 K-12 students.