Hollister
– The San Benito High School District approved its 2006-2007
budget, which has the district running with a deficit and could
lead to staffing cuts, school officials fear.
Hollister – The San Benito High School District approved its 2006-2007 budget, which has the district running with a deficit and could lead to staffing cuts, school officials fear.
District officials largely attribute the $455,000 deficit to the roughly $1 million in raises and benefits for teachers and classified staff that had not been factored into the budget for the 2005-2006 school year. The state’s budget has been particularly generous for education this year, and the district expects to benefit from several smaller grants for specialized programs such as physical education or drama. But changes must be made, say officials, if the district is to remain solvent.
“We know we’ll have additional revenue coming in next year,” said Director of Finance and Operations Jim Koenig. “But this is the best data we have available right now.”
The Board of Trustees ratified a contract agreement it had settled with the teacher’s union in January, after nearly three years of labor negotiations that afforded some teachers a raise of 6.4 percent or more, depending on how long they had worked for the district and what extra-curricular activities they chose to involve themselves in. The classified union, which represents school employees who do not hold a teaching credential, settled their own contract later in the year.
“The board sets the parameters for any labor negotiations,” said board President Jan Joseph. “So I believe we all understood what that contract meant, and I don’t think there were any surprises.”
The district has already taken several measures to cut costs this year, including the elimination of several vacant positions and cutting administrator work days or work hours. Twice the board considered cutting positions that are currently filled – two guidance counselor positions and the campus security supervisor – but in both cases so many students and parents showed up in opposition of the cuts that the board decided to keep all three positions.
“It’s very serious, and it’s a really sad situation because you’re dealing with people’s livelihoods,” said Trustee Evelyn Muro, who voted against approving the budget. “I’m not surprised at all that so many people became upset, and really what you have to look at is ‘How will this impact the students?'”
Muro said she voted against passing the budget because it called for the spending from the district’s roughly $2.5 million reserve fund, and as the meeting Wednesday was held on one of the last days of the fiscal year, the board had essentially no choice but to approve the budget.
“I did feel pushed into a wall,” she said. “The budget should have been balanced, but instead it was given to us like ‘Here, you just have to approve this.'”
While many trustees shared Muro’s concerns about the deficit, the majority felt that passing the budget was the right thing to do. It was approved, however, with the caveat that staff bring a plan back to the board as to how to cut costs as soon as possible.
“I think the board was being prudent in accepting the budget,” Joseph said. “Because it is clear that the administration will be bringing us back suggestions in the near future.”
Though no one can say for sure just what those changes will entail, more than 80 percent of the school’s expenses come from personnel – state law requires that at least 50 percent of school expenses be spent on staff – and it is more than likely that staff cuts, or at least changes, are on the horizon.
“I think the board has shown a commitment to making the correct decision,” said SBHS Superintendent Jean Burns Slater. “So we just have to bring them back a plan and try combining them to see what the best move is.”
The Governor’s revised state budget has put aside an unusual amount of money for education this year, including the highest Cost of Living Adjustment in around 20 years. But even this revenue, around $1 million the district had not anticipated, is not enough to offset the $1.3 million in additional expense the district must deal with this year.
“We’re a high school district, we get more money than elementary or unified school districts, and that still is not enough,” said SBHS teacher’s union president Chuck Schallhorn. “I don’t know how unified districts do it.”
Besides making cuts, increasing student attendance may well be the single most important aspect district officials are looking at to balance the budget for next year.
“If we had a 1-percent increase in our attendance rate, it would bring in $250,000, if we had a 2-percent increase, it would knock our deficit right out,” said Koenig. “If your kids aren’t going to school, it’s a lot harder for us to meet our obligation to them.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com
