Enrollment loss leads to admin staff cuts
by Bret Bradigan

Effects of shrinking enrollment at Ojai Unified School District has shrunk the teaching staff by 11 positions, and now the administration has suffered its own contraction.
District Superintendent Van Riley announced Thursday that John LeSuer, interim principal at Meiners Oaks Elementary School since Patric Peake's departure last fall, will return to teaching next fall.
Dr. Marty Babayco will step into the breach at Meiners Oaks, while Doug Becker, principal at San Antonio School, will also assume Babayco's duties as principal at Summit School. Dr. Babayco's other title, director of special projects, will be assumed by Steve Olsen, principal of Chaparral Continuation High School.
"I am confident that the new roles for Marty, Steve and Doug will move the district in a positive direction, programmatically and fiscally," said Riley, noting that one fewer administrative position will save the district $108,000 in salary and benefits. This reduces the district's administrators from 15 to 14.
Ojai Unified School District's enrollment declined 130 this year, is expected to decline 189 next year, and 1,000 during the next decade. This dropoff is attributed to a number of factors, with Ventura Unified School District's strict ban on interdistrict transfers and fewer families with children moving into the district among them.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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