The Antelope Valley Times

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Layoffs loom for local Head Start employees

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LayoffsPALMDALE – All Palmdale School District Head Start employees received letters in April informing them that they would be laid off in June, but the layoff timeline could be extended until December, school district officials said.

The original layoff notices the employees received stated that “The Board of Trustees of the Palmdale School District took action on April 16th, 2013 to eliminate all permitted Early Childhood Education positions effective June 30th, 2013 due to a lack of funds.”

According to Palmdale School District Superintendent Roger Gallizzi, the layoff notices were sent out “because of some things done at the county office, not at the district.”

“The federal government required Los Angeles County to reapply for the grant… and in the recompetition for the grant they did not receive the Antelope Valley as part of their territory,” Gallizzi said.

The Superintendent further explained that a different organization did receive the funds, but he said he is not at liberty to reveal the service provider’s name.

April’s layoff notices advise employees that their names are being placed in a reemployment pool for 39 months, in case vacancies in their former positions become available during that time. The notification process for new openings would be determined by length of service, according to the notice.

There have been some new developments since the layoff notices were sent out.

Most recently, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) verbally agreed to fund the Head Start program through December of this school year, according to the Palmdale School District.

Human Resources Director Chad Gray said the current layoffs “may be rescinded, but we need it in writing from LACOE about the funding.”

“The kids are still going to be serviced, that part I do know, it just depends on if Palmdale will be serving the kids or if the new organization will be serving the kids,” Gray explained.

Hugo Estrada, President of the Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association stated that, “At this point we are happy that they are going to rescind [the layoff notices], at least til December, until we have a better idea of what this funding is going to look like for this program.”

“We know that this creates still a certain level of uncertainty for some of our members but at this point we feel that this is the best temporary solution for this problem,” Estrada continued.

According to the Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association, the layoff notices still have to be approved by the Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association and the Palmdale School Board.

Head Start is an early childhood program that focuses on the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual aspects of child development, according to the Palmdale School District.

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45 comments for "Layoffs loom for local Head Start employees"

  1. PSD Update…apparently there will be NO additional money for the District to run efficiently….surprised??

  2. *REMINDER* PSD Board meeting tonight starting at 4:00…a meeting definitely worth attending!!

  3. Now headstart is cutting back amt of students enrolled in lancaster 12 kids are going to be losing there spots the director of the program is a complete [removed] she has no clue how to run a business however every desk in palmdalehas 2 computer monitors why do they need to waste money. And the fiscal manager waste the most money and now they wonder why they are losing there jobs hmmmm

    • Yes, total waste. The fiscal supervisor is neck deep in the director’s behind!! She’s got her job ensured because she is all to happy to defend the idiot director. This woman, the director has no clue what she is doing and SHE has single-handedly brought this program down to the ground. Her new brown-nosers,have been attending trainings with her with the agency that has taken over…CCRC. YES, IT IS NOOOOO SECRET you jerks!! We know!!!

  4. Although not related to this article, there is a letter to the editor in the local ewspaper that some of you might find interesting.

  5. I would urge anyone who is not fully familiar with the program to please do their homework before posting comments. I am a classified employee, and fully support our certificated staff. Teachers are highly unappreciated and truly overworked. With that said, I am quite tired of everyone overlooking classified. Please tell me, who handles all the paperwork,all finances, enrollments, etc…Who keeps the program from falling apart when LACOE monitors? Yes, you guessed it, it is classified. Why are people so quick to forget all the hard work that we all do every single day!! We have highly educated classified staff, and hundreds who have been devoted employees for 20+ years. If our classified staff were obsolete as the superintendent would have you believe, then he would be able to sit at my desk for a full day and complete the wide variety of tasks I deal with everyday. But this is not so, especially not with the timeliness, and professionalism with which I proudly complete my work.
    The board of trustees, parents, and even some teachers take us for granted and mistreat us. It would be wonderful if everyone can take a moment to look at each of us as individuals, and appreciate all that we do for everyone. Yes, we do a lot for our teachers and with pleasure because we KNOW what they have to deal with as well. We therefore ask that the same appreciation be demonstrated towards classified staff by everyone. Including the administrative and directorial staff. We sit at our desks wondering what all the meetings are about, wondering why we aren’t being told that CCRC got the grant from LACOE, we wonder why the director and other supervisors are being trained at CCRC and not sharing what they know. Do you not understand that this is our livelihood? That we need to plan ahead for what is to come? We are told to “think positive,” “keep working hard” and “don’t go around whispering.” Is that what they are afraid of? that we will stop working? In spite of what you may think, we have a great work ethic and will continue working hard until the very last day! But we ARE human and have little ones to feed and homes to pay. We are NOT stupid and will not allow the secrecy to continue. We deserve more consideration. As a classified employee, I refuse to keep any secrets and hope that everyone (certificated included) will share whatever they hear. How can anyone expect that a human being will not speculate. IT is all ridiculous and demeaning.

    • I think everyone posting on this thread are pro classified & certificated…not sure where you are going with your post except to inform us all that you have some secrets worth sharing….so please do share.

  6. But, no one’s gettin even a threat of bein dismissed at the D.O. are they? That’s where their labor money is. The classified staff there is gettin screwed, too. No mention about that. The May revise just came out. The Governor claims BILLIONS are goin to education next fiscal. PSD isn’t gettin any of that to sustain their employees? Someone in their D.O. has to lose their gig is what needs to happen. Leave the middle-class alone!

    • Let’s just see what happens at the Board Meeting on Tuesday 5/21…truth or lies? The community deserves the truth!

  7. I’m finding it hard to believe the Superintendent here. My child’s teacher informed me back in march when she recieved her pink slip that the funding was there, but that the school district wouldn’t release the funds for the Headstart Program. She was ready to send letters to the state. But then a few weeks later, she said the teachers were being told different stories, and she now doesn’t know which to believe. All she wants is to keep teaching, not deal with the district B.S.

  8. Head Start is a great program. Problem is there isn’t a follow up program! Antelope Valley having the lowest SAT scores in LA County tell a story.

    • thats because of all the ghetto trash that came here and brought their low performing, low functioning children with them. Then it gets reflected in the test results!

      I remember when the AV had really great schools and less money to run them. Its all about demographics.

  9. I believe in the truth Audit the district entirely. Not just one department, perhaps the auditors would find all the long lost money. Yeah that’s how I trulyy feel. I am on board with the educators recieving what is truly promised to them.its so sad that children can’t enjoy going to school. School no matter what age should be , fun and exciting. It’s Getting our future ready to be self sufficent not be altered by money hoarders. So please everyone support our educators, your voice needs to be heard. Please, support support support!

  10. Can we get some facts to go with the headlines?

    Facts like:

    How many jobs are at risk?

    Is this program, Early Childhood Education, the only one effected, not the whole of Head Start? By the way Early Childhood Education as I understand the program is for very young children under the age of 4.

    How many children would loose out under this program in Palmdale?

    How long has this program been in place?

      • Almost 150 jobs and 1200 children. Now thats a sad situation. Parents please step up and be heard!

    • Currently there are 84 Head Start Teachers, each class has 20 children. Head Start Teachers and Staff have been all laid off. No one was spared under Head Start, lots of families will be at loss. Lots of educators will be unemployed. This program in Antelope Valley has been here for 25 years and has recently been threatened with a total wipe out. Or will be re classified and over worked taking on double classes and laying off half our staff? Rumors are flying and all outcomes are not what is best for our children. Tired over worked teachers cause children not to reach excellence.

      • Don’t forget about state preschool teachers who have 24 students in the am and pm- 48 total.

    • Been in place now for over 20 yrs and all of head start be gone close too 100 teachers and not including the office staff and etc. It is sad that this happening. so many of us teachers has our hearts and souls in this program and for many years such as my self been with them 15 yrs. so please support the program and help us educators that helps our future

      • So sad to hear that your jobs Is in jeapordy! So hope by some miracle they keep the HS programs so at least more people aren’t in the unemployment line at the same time!

    • Maybe I am reading this article wrong, but I think the only impacted program is the Early Childhood Education part of Head Start. The Early program serves children not ready for head start so 2, 3 and 4 year old children.

      Also reading the article above, this was a grant program for this Early Childhood program, so I don’t think all of Head Start is at risk, and so not all the 150 jobs sited below are truly at risk.

      What are the facts?

      • All of Head Start is at risk, not just the teachers. The resolution says presented on April 16, 2013 board agenda showed as follows:

        ECE Teacher = 48
        ECE Lead Teacher = 11
        Child Development Liaison = 6
        ECE Home-Based Teacher = 13
        Total = 78

        Classified
        Warehouse Worker Delivery Driver II = 1
        Health Assistant = 1
        HS Bilingual Enroll Ass = 5
        Family/Community Liaison = 5
        Family Health Provider = 3
        ECE Teachers Asst = 36
        Custodian I = 4
        Custodian II = 1
        Bil Admin Secretary = 1
        Bil Family/Community Liaison = 9
        Bil ECE Teachers Ass = 34
        Bil Admin Clerk II = 5
        Attendance Clerk = 1
        Administrative Clerk II = 6
        Accounting Clerk II = 1
        Acct/Data Processing Technician = 4
        Family Partnership Specialist – Mgm position
        Head Start State Preschool Fiscal Officer (Mgm Position) Don’t count
        Health Facilitator – Mgm Position
        Mental Health Facilitator – Mgm Position

        Total Classified = 117

        Not counting the possible additional 200 classified employees who may loose there jobs and benefits as well, because of the bumping down factor.

        This is a huge mess. PSD new well in advance that they were going to loose the funding from LACOE. PSD always talk about being transparent, what a bunch of bull….They sit at there $300,000 decorative board room and look down on the parents, teachers and classified. Last night as a student was speaking about how they came to this country for a better education, Roger Gallizzi, didn’t have the respect to look at that student in the eye, he kept his head down….What a disgrace of a man…Palmdale’s parents and community need to recall everyone of those board members, and fire the cabinet as a whole…..They all make over $150,000 each….

        • Gallizzi rarely makes eye contact with anyone speaking at the meetings and no one ever says a damn thing about it during the meeting when it is happening. Let’s not forget the intimidating sheriff who starts the meeting with his warning of bad behavior will get you escorted out, possible fine, and arrest. WTF is that all about? And the little man continues on like the fkn energizer bunny!

    • The real money waste is the payroll for overpaid Schools Supervisors who removes jobs to ensure their salary. Go research their paychecks and post it here so the public can figure it out for themselves.

  12. “The federal government required Los Angeles County to reapply for the grant… and in the recompetition for the grant they did not receive the Antelope Valley as part of their territory,” Gallizzi said.

    The Superintendent further explained that a different organization did receive the funds, but he said he is not at liberty to reveal the service provider’s name.”
    What kind of a scam is this ?

      • Somebody at PSD didnt do his or her job right or wasn’t aggressive enough in getting these funds. But I’m beginning to think Palmdale School District is a joke like a state and federal grant mill that just exists to siphon money from the state and federal government which then goes into the pockets of the Superintendent and other higher ups. Lancaster school district is the same.

        • What about the rumored pay off money Gallizzi has spent for his screw ups?Seems to be quite a few ex-employees walkin around with some hefty cash in their pockets. Perhaps that money should come out of his pay, and the board should lose their stipends until all is paid in full. Where is the accountability for this money? How does a District of this size stay under the rader? Dirty deals behind closed doors?? And all on the backs of the students!

    • I say he better let you and me,the ,great American taxpayers,know and soon.Need to call for an investigation,Mr Antonovich.

  13. I’m guessing that if there were solid results from the head start program then they’d find a way to keep the funding.

    Thank God for private school.

    • Well here is the problem with Fed money…Gallizzi and his Board are not suppose to spend that money when they feel the urge to dip a lil for other things, but they did, got spanked and moved on. So why would they want to keep & run a funded program if they can’t control the funds?

  14. Blah, Blah, Blah…how can you believe anything Gallizzi and his Puppet Board say. I think their past practice says it all. They will do and say whatever they want, and get away with it time after time because no one stops them. Why is it when they cry poor millions are miraculously found on the books?? Someone’s head should be on the chopping block…actually several!

    • I agree with you and Im one of those teachers who has been working with them for almost 15 yrs and they have lied to us in the meetings and told us they did not know who was taking over they have been feelding us B.S. every week. It is sad the people in prison gets better than the kids of the future, they don;t care about the kids, the teachers as long as they get thier pay and they get thier medical paid for and get to go on trips and what ever why should they care about the head start program. They don;t use the money where it should be and they have not given us our cola raises in the last 6 yrs the feds gives money for it and we never see it. al lwe see is cuts ,cuts and raise our medical.

      • Sandy I am a psd parent from way back the entire district has gone down hill for about the past 8yrs. The superintendent needs to go and also with many of his trickster. Also the board members that represent need ro be removed. End of story… oh by the way I do support our educators …wake up people before it’s to late.

        • It’s a shame that the PSD parents of today aren’t more involved. I don’t think the majority of them realize just how screwed up things are. Wake up people….the Superintendent and the Board work for you…take control and get your School District back!

          • I totally agree many parents dont take a stand and be heard.. they just drop their children off at school and pick them up. Get involved with your child’s education Now is a great time!

    • I agree with you he is nothing but BS him self and he can careless about kids and i was once told he hated kids. Well he makes good money over 200, 000 a yr and medical and his gas paid for my the district by the peoples tax money. and our kids future is going down the tubes. Headstart is where these get a start from, the teachers in that program work hard and get them ready for the kindergarten. but do you think they get credit heck no.