Reports Joe Piasecki, already facing massive personnel cuts as a result of decreased state funding,
the Los Angeles Alhambra School District is under fire from the Chinese-American community
over what some are calling an intolerable decision to eliminate the Adult Education director's position.
The current director, 24-year adult education veteran Dr. Loretta Huang, is fluent in several
Chinese dialects and teaches English proficiency skills to potentially thousands of local adults.
Her language skills have been particularly helpful considering Asian-Americans now number more
than any other race in Alhambra, more than 47 percent of the total population, according to 2000
census figures. Dr. Huang's is to be eliminated effective July 1. In addition to Huang's position,
positions of the coordinator of child welfare and attendance, the coordinator of career education,
a custodial supervisor, two assistant principals, a principal working in human resource, and
several non-management positions are to be eliminated.. The job elimination and increase of class
sizes will save 5.7 million.
"The Asian-American community is shocked, indignant and finds it unacceptable," wrote Robert Kwan in a May 24 letter sent to appointed federal officials, elected officials and the press. "It is an action our community and voters cannot tolerate," he wrote. Kwan also noted that 11.700 students of which 69 percent were Asian Americans studied English.(Source: Pasadena Weekly)