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.”

“Decisions made by the District have rendered my credential worthless.”

–Greg Chastain, Anaheim Teacher

Day one ended with little progress and much confusion.

AUHSD teacher Greg Chastain discusses the status of his RIF notice with ASTA President Geoff Morganstern.

Day Two

Judge Sawyer announced on Wednesday morning that the complexity of the criteria list and number of affected teachers who will make pleas would require an extension of the hearing by an additional five days or more.  

Anaheim district officials spent the morning explaining each individual layoff notice, including a rationale for why some teachers on the list were skipped while others were not. As the morning progressed, it became obvious that many of the criteria established by the district also applied to teachers who had not been skipped, but had instead received a layoff notice. 

Attorney Marianne Reinhold, representing teachers being laid off by Anaheim Union, began her cross examination of the district in the afternoon by addressing discrepancies in the seniority list. Reinhold questioned Jensen on when discussions regarding the RIF process began and how the district determined which particular kinds of services would be utilized for purposes of skipping on the seniority list.

Jensen struggled to answer seniority questions raised by Reinhold, further highlighting the arbitrary nature of the district’s decision to skip some teachers while noticing others.

Counsel Reinhold placed information into evidence which illustrated that the district had slated  multiple teachers with appropriate credentials for layoff, while skipping other educators with less experience – many possessing the appropriate credential. In example after example given, AUHSD appeared to have struggled to follow their own criteria set out for layoffs.

As the day ended, it became plain that the district’s determination to make significant deviations from the seniority list has created further uncertainty leaving Anaheim teachers dazed and confused.

Day Three: Union Advocacy

Thursday morning began with Judge Sawyer confirming to teachers that the hearing would be extended five additional days: May 2, 14, 20, 22, and 23. The updated schedule means that Anaheim teachers will be kept out of the classroom during the final days of the 2023-24 school year.

The news was met with shock and disappointment by the educators who have been forced to spend their days in seemingly endless court proceedings rather than providing the instruction necessary to guide their students across the finish line as summer approaches.

The hearing continued with Reinhold further addressing inconsistencies in the district’s “skip” process, highlighting teachers who held similar training and credentials but who experienced different outcomes. Jensen acknowledged that errors were made during the tiebreaker process which lead to some teachers erroneously receiving final layoff notices.

Despite direct questioning from CTA counsel regarding specific areas of confusion and opacity, the district representative repeatedly referenced his need to research the district’s decision to lay off some teachers while “skipping” others with the same credential, training, and experience.

Cross-examination continued as CTA Conflict Attorney Jean Shin, representing a portion of those Anaheim teachers who were identified for a “skip,” further clarified the number of RIF notices distributed versus the anticipated number of layoffs. Shin questioned the lack of logic in the district’s decision to forgo recissions of members not slated to be given final notices.

Despite feelings of stress and anxiety, ASTA members rallied together in solidarity throughout the day’s proceedings.

Breakfast was provided by Katella High staff, Community Schools Lead Diana Gomez, and the Garden Grove Education Association while Katella High teacher Emily Farr purchased ice cream for members to enjoy as an afternoon treat. ASTA once again provided lunch for the nearly 200 educators who continue to struggle with the uncertainty of their futures.

“This hearing has clearly shown the value of union membership. Members have been empowered through ASTA’s organizing efforts and skillfully represented by CTA legal and staff.”

–Geoff Morganstern, ASTA President

ASTA will continue to stand in support of our members to hold the district to a fair and transparent process as the RIF hearing extends into its second week.