Employee’s Golden Apple Turns Bitter

ALAN TAM

News Editor

California’s budget shortfalls have been the topic of considerable news coverage. Seldom is the dwindling budget not mentioned in campaign advertisements, televised debates and financial discussions.

However, at AHS, funding deficits and program cuts are an expected, even standard, part of the high school experience. Rarely do they surprise even the most uninformed  freshman.

Nonetheless, a recent wave of employee layoffs by the Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD) board has brought media attention to the seriousness of the education system’s current financial situation.

On June 16, library technician Terry Cannon was announced the Employee of the Year for AHS and was given a Golden Apple to in commemoration. On June 18, the district decided that 18 faculty members of AUSD were to be laid off due to budget constraints. Cannon was one of them.

“The layoff came as quite a surprise,” said Cannon. “I knew the district was having budgetary problems and I thought that it might [reduce my] hours. I […] was not expecting that my position would be eliminated.”

According to administrators, the layoff was an unfortunate consequence of the district deficit.

“[The termination had] nothing to do with performance,” said Assistant Superintendant of Human Resources Laura Tellez. “It was based on seniority.”

Despite the circumstance of Cannon’s termination, he believes that his experience at AHS has been a positive one for him.

“The thing I missed the most was not being there to greet and to encourage the students,” said Cannon. “I loved every moment of it.”