Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 1

Verdugo Hills High School WASC/CDE Self-Study Reportand student organizations were added, including Glee Club, AP MusicTheory class, juggling club, National Honor Society, auto club, guitar club,and more.Staffing and EnrollmentRecent and significant changes in administrative leadership and staffinghave had an impact on the culture of the school. First, the principal isnew to the school as of the 2011-2012 academic year. There has been amajor reduction of teachers, counselors, and clerical staff over the lastthree years due to dropping enrollment, budget cuts, and new schoolsopening in the area. At the start of the 2010-11 school year, 5 teacherswere displaced because of low enrollment. At the start of the 2011-12school year, the District opened Cesar Chavez High School, whichenrolled Verdugo students, thereby dropping our enrollment by about 200students and teacher staffing by about 6 teachers. Subsequently, at thestart of the 2011-12 school year, another 5 teachers were displaced dueto low enrollment and the new school opening, and the centrally fundedteacher-librarian position was cut from 5 to 4 days a week.At the start of 2012-13 year, the teacher-librarian transferred to anotherschool for a full-time position. Fortunately, Verdugo was able to restorethe 5 th day of library services after the Fall Norm Day (October, 2012)and a full-time teacher-librarian was placed at Verdugo by the District.The administrative team went from one principal and 4 assistantprincipals to one principal and three APs. The AP was replaced with ahead counselor who provides leadership for the counseling office andprepares the master schedule. Clerical staff went from 8 to 5 positions atthe start of the 2012-13 year, though VHHS was able to bring on anadditional office technician for relief in Spring 2013. Two student workersare in the process of being hired for the Spring 2013 semester. The dropin staffing is directly related to the drop in enrollment. At the Norm Dayenrollment count in 2012-13 (6 th week of school), enrollment was 1639,80 students over the expected 1559 students. School leadership opted toopen some auxiliaries with the additional funds instead of hiring moreteachers. Staffing is expected to increase by three teachers in 2013-14,when a new magnet center is opened on campus.Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 29