Hollister
– Hollister School District officials say the 2007-08 budget up
for approval at tonight’s Board of Trustees meeting calls for no
major cuts while helping to stabilize the financial future.
Hollister – Hollister School District officials say the 2007-08 budget up for approval at tonight’s Board of Trustees meeting calls for no major cuts while helping to stabilize the financial future.
The overall budget calls for $48,824,005 in expenses from the general fund, a $5 million increase from the previous year.
While no immediate cuts would be made under the draft, it calls for a policy of attrition when it comes to the special education departments. That means when an instructional assistant in a special education class resigns, the district would not fill those jobs.
“Special education is sensitive,” Bachofer said. “You have kids with learning disabilities and we’re talking about making reductions there.”
The Hollister School District’s Director of Business and Operations, Jack Bachofer, said he was confident the 2007-08 budget would help the district prepare for the coming years, when state funding may get tighter.
“A lot of people just focus on the current year,” Bachofer said. “That’s important, but you could have a healthy balance this year, and over a period of time that balance will be brought down.”
That sentiment was echoed by Trustee Ron Hatchett, who noted a shared concern about cuts to educational funding from the state in future years.
“We need to save now because it looks like in future years the budget is going to get tighter,” Hatchett said.
The district plans to maintain the number of positions currently staffed, while adding two additional vice principal positions at the magnet schools opening in the fall.
Hatchett is content with the proposed budget, he said, especially considering the additional cost of the two magnet schools.
Bachofer said the school district will pay close attention to more subtle ways to save money.
One way the district hopes to save money, Bachofer said, is through having staff members carpool when they attend conferences.
“It’s pretty wide open in terms of what we’re looking at (cutting back on). I would say everything that might save money and might make things even a little better,” Bachofer said.
