San Benito High School District officials were among several
hundred educators at a workshop in Sacramento Tuesday to learn more
about the state’s impending budget cuts.
San Benito High School District Superintendent Richard Lowry and Director of Finance Steve Delay were among several hundred educators at a workshop in Sacramento Tuesday to learn more about the state’s impending budget cuts.
The workshop, held by School Services of California, made available up-to-date information on Gov. Gray Davis’ mid-year budget-cut proposal and the 2003-04 state budget, Lowry said. He estimated that 1,500 educators were in attendance for the morning and afternoon sessions.
“(The workshop) illustrated the different proposals and impacts of the cuts,” Lowry said.
School Services of California helps California’s school districts, county offices and community colleges meet management, governance and fiscal responsibilities. Delay said School Services is one of the best sources of financial information in the state.
According to information provided at the workshop, educators should know the specifics of what will be cut by the end of January after the state Legislature discusses and prioritizes the cuts.
Projections on the effect of the cuts include a 10.82-percent decrease in restricted funds – funds with strings attached – and a drop of between 2.15 and 3.66 percent in unrestricted funds – paper and salaries. This could mean mid-year cuts of $543,250 to $765,220 in the SBHSD’s $30 million budget, according to numbers supplied by Lowry.
About 80 percent of the district’s budget is tied up in staff contracts – money that can not be cut during the school year.
“I think (the cuts) will have a significantly negative impact on the delivery of educational services to our students,” Lowry said. “… None of (the cuts) is going to reduce the number of students and their needs.”
The impact of the mid-year budget cuts, although not yet specified by the legislature, is already being felt at the district level. Lowry said the district has frozen all staff hiring and non-essential, non-reimbursable travel, discontinued overtime, eliminated all district activity that is not funded from an outside source, reduced all operational budgets by 10 percent and eliminated all authorization for additional workdays beyond those required. Also, the district is reviewing all service agreements to see if any sections can be reduced, Lowry said.
SBHS Principal Karen Schroder said Jean Burns Slater, the new district superintendent who starts Feb. 3, and the district’s board of trustees will be responsible for executing the cuts.
Davis proposed mid-year cuts of $3.1 billion in education with another $2.1 billion for fiscal year 2003-04.
Although the state budget is required by law to be approved by June 15, Lowry doesn’t think that will be the case. This year’s budget wasn’t approved until Sept. 15, he said.
The later the budget is passed, the less time educators have to plan and make cuts before the school year starts, he said.
“I think school districts will have to plan for next year by listening to the discussions in Sacramento,” Lowry said.
The mid-year and next fiscal year cuts may be just the beginning.
“There’s no sign that 18 months from now the economy will be any better,” Lowry said.
