Lemon Grove Reinstates Teachers' Aides

Students, administrators, and teachers aides in the Lemon Grove School District have reason to celebrate this school year.

The school board brought back eight teachers aides, a janitor and a computer assistant the day after their rehiring was approved by the school board at a special meeting Sept. 22. All had been laid off.

"This was ideal because all these individuals are excellent employees," said Superintendent Ernest Anastos. "These are people who, every day, impact student lives."

The school district has been in dreadful financial straits the last four years. It closed a middle school, canceled sixth-grade camp, and also laid off many janitors and teachers aides.

The teachers aides will support teachers in special education classrooms. They will be working from three to five-and-a-half hours per day.

Board President Tim Shaw said he was overjoyed to restore the employees to the classroom. "This is a great opportunity to put the funding back to hire our employees," he said.

Funds for the reinstatement came from two sources, Anastos said. Last year, aides took four furlough days, which saved money. And then the district merged some transportation routes with the Grossmont Union School District. The two savings resulted in $100,000—enough to bring back the employees.

"With the funds from these two savings, we turned around and brought back some of the employees who had been laid off," Anastos said.

Anastos is ecstatic about the district's ability to hire back the aides and janitor.

"It's always fun to report good news, and this is good news," he said.