The latest analysis of the district's budget crisis over the next two years pegs the 2-year deficit at just over $10 million. To put this in perspective, in order to save $4.8 million per year without any cuts to services or layoffs of employees, each employee in the district would have to agree to take a 10.6% pay cut. (Each 1% of district salary is equal to $472,000.)
Absent such a concession, the district has presented to the Board a proposal that includes cuts and changes that would reduce $8.3 million, which would still leave the district more than $1.6 million in the hole after the 2011-2012 year. The district is required by October to develop an interim budget to present to the state that shows how the budget will be balanced over the subsequent 2 years, ahd must pass a 2010-2011 budget by the end of June.
The list of proposed cuts presented at the April 20 Board meeting did not contain any surprises. It was a compilation of choices presented at all the budget hearings, committee meetings, and public meetings, after taking into account the feedback from all the various constituencies.
The biggest ticket item on the proposed list is increasing class size (24:1 K-3 year 1, 26:1 K-3 year 2, 32:1 4-8), which would save $3.4 million over two years. Reducing the work year for teachers by 2 days each year would save $740,000. The savings from retiring teachers nets $300,000 per year. The district is proposing savings of $640,000 by reducing the number of couselors paid for out of the general fund. The district's proposed list of cuts would result in savings of nearly $6.5 million from certificated employees (teachers). Most of these savings could only occur if they are agreed to by the teachers' union.
Proposed cuts to classified staff include a reduction of 1.5 people in the business office, a cut of one case facilitator, and reduced hours for school clerks and media techs (1 less hour per day), plus a 10-day shorter work year for school clerks and school secretaries.
The Board will be discussing these proposed reductions and any other options that may be available to the district this week at our special board meeting on Wednesday, April 28. While the discussion will not be interactive with the public, those who are interested are welcome to attend the meeting and listen to what will surely be a lively discussion.
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2 comments:
Years ago, when there were budget shortages, the district cut summer school.
Why are we having summer school this year?
What would be the savings if we did without it?
Robert,
It is true that there are some summer school program, but all discretionary summer school programs that are paid for out of the district's general fund have been cancelled. The only summer school programs that we are funding are special education extended year programs that are required by law. The funding for those comes from Title 1 funds.
All of the other programs we offer, such as our math enrichment program, are paid for with grant money (such as from the Silicon Valley Education Foundation) or are run by private organizations on a fee basis.
David
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