Kennedy High Prepares For Budget Reductions

By Larry Caballero

Anaheim Union High School District’s Kennedy High School in La Palma is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst if further budget cuts are necessary. Over the past three years, the District has been required to reduce more than $70 million from its $350 million budget resulting in the elimination of more than 400 certified, classified and management positions.
The District is required to address the anticipated preliminary $13 million budget shortfall through reductions that will impact students, programs and personnel across the District.
“We have been informed by the District that at least our International Baccalaureate Program, that offers high quality programs that encourage our students to be active learners, will not be eliminated this year,” said Kennedy Principal Russell Earnest.
Yet the school with 2,300 students, grades 9 through 12, may still suffer with larger class sizes and loss of classified employee hours. It is anticipated that each of the 16 junior and senior high school campuses in the District may also lose an assistant principal as well as a custodian.
Earnest said that there is a collegial relationship between the District and the various unions, but there is always a possibility of furlough days and salary rollbacks.
Earnest is a veteran of AUHSD who served as an administrator and teacher before he arrived at Kennedy in Sept. 2010 as its Principal. “My hope is to keep budget cuts as far away as possible from the classroom and to maintain the rigorous academic programs that we offer our students,” said Earnest.