The program utilizes bilingual instructors called paraprofessionals, who aid teachers with the school's dual-immersion Spanish and English curriculum. River Glen has received numerous awards for its bilingual program and has been recognized nationally as a "dissemination model" for districts throughout the United States.

Nearly 520 students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the school. The school is also the only magnet school program in Willow Glen.

"Our magnet school is becoming eroded," said Keith Uriarte, whose son is about to enter second grade.

River Glen parent Barbara Ronquillo, whose son and daughter are entering third and first grades, is also concerned about the changes in curriculum, adding, "It's not possible to have a quality dual-immersion school without those paraprofessionals."

San Jose Unified School District Human Resources Manager Roxanne Regules said that of the 10 paraprofessionals assigned to River Glen, one retired and seven were laid off because of severe district-wide budget cuts. The two remaining paraprofessionals could accept a pay cut but continue to assist teachers in the immersion program.

Rosa Molina, the district's director of elementary education, sympathizes with the parents as the former principal of River Glen. She helped hire some of the paraprofessionals who've been let go.

"They were women I hired and worked with," Molina said. "And I, too, am distressed that there's no money to staff the school."

The paraprofessionals who worked at River Glen Elementary and River Glen Principal Cecilia Barrie could not be reached for comment.

The district's board heard from a few parents at its June 5 meeting. Celia Cruz-Johnson submitted a signed petition with more than 300 signatures asking the district to preserve the two hours of daily instruction the paraprofessionals provide.

At the same meeting, three more parents—Maricruz Mendoza, Estela Sandoval and Martha Nila—asked the board to reconsider the layoffs. They believe the paraprofessionals were instrumental in their children's ability to read and write in Spanish and English.

The California Association for Bilingual Education named one of the school's paraprofessionals, Dolores Corpus, as instructional assistant of the year for 2002.

But no amount of awards could stave off the cuts that are hitting all the classrooms in the district this year.

District Superintendent Linda Murray said at the board meeting that the district has cut $14 million from its budget while doing everything it could to keep cuts from affecting classrooms and academic programs.

Gerald Matranga, the district's associate superintendent, said at the board meeting that the district relied on the state to provide 80 percent of its funding. The state deficit has made this year the worst for the district since 1968. Now the district has had to make cuts that directly affect the classroom.

"I can understand that the district is in crisis mode and is trying to put out fires," Ronquillo said, "but I don't think the district is looking at the big picture."

To help out, River Glen Elementary's parents group, Habla, is considering how to raise funds to help out the school. Uriarte believes the cost to rehire these paraprofessionals back would be significant, costing thousands of dollars. But district rules prohibit raising funds to cover salaries. What schools can do is reallocate their reserve funds away from programs, such as field trips, to try to preserve salaries, Molina said. In exchange, parents can raise money for enrichment programs that pay for guest speakers or teaching supplies, Molina said.

"What parents will need to do is stay in close communication with the principal," she said.

Ronquillo said it's important for parents to stay closely connected to their schools and to volunteer and work with the school's administration.