The Hollister School District unveiled a set of proposals which
will hopefully solve some of the district’s financial woes at a
special Board meeting Monday, and which Superintendent Ron Crates
feels could put the district into the black sometime in the near
future.
Hollister – The Hollister School District unveiled a set of proposals which will hopefully solve some of the district’s financial woes at a special Board meeting Monday, and which Superintendent Ron Crates feels could put the district into the black sometime in the near future.
But they also could mean lay-offs for a few teachers who have yet to earn their tenure.
“I felt really good about being able to show this to the board,” said Crates. “It’s a step in the right direction.”
The meeting was purely informational and no action was taken by the board. The district detailed a series of cuts and corrections made to the previous operating budget totaling roughly $2 million, which should be enough to deliver HSD from its current deficit if the board vote to ratify the changes at its Feb. 28 meeting.
The district, which learned over the summer that they could well be operating at a $2.9 million deficit by 2008 if drastic cuts were not made, has endured a wealth of financial troubles in recent years, the most dramatic of which was a possible state takeover of the district.
Over half of the district’s savings will come from correcting two errors made on the original operating budget. Funds for transportation services were double budgeted by mistake – essentially allocating twice the money that was required by the district for transportation – and roughly $842,800 will be returned to HSD’s general fund. Budget contributions to a routine repair and maintenance fund were also overstated by more than $1.25 million and will be re-allotted.
“The budget was developed under some serious time constraints, and it really was done well,” said Crates. “That money only makes up 2 percent of our total budget … we’re really scrubbing the budget now, and we should be able to get back in the black.”
The proposal also entails several cuts and eliminates nine teaching positions, which Hollister Elementary School Teachers’ Association President Jan Grist says the Union had not expected.
“I’m surprised that we’re looking at laying off nine teachers,” she said. “I’d like to see it work out so that no teachers lose their job, that’s the union’s main point, of course.”
Crates is quick to point out, however, that plans are in the works to decrease kindergarten class sizes to a student/teacher ratio of 1:20 to encourage increased enrollment. If the change goes through, eight new kindergarten teachers will be required. Ideally, teachers currently instructing higher grades could switch to kindergarten, resulting in a total loss of only one teaching job. Depending upon the kinds of credentials the teachers hold, however, that may not be feasible.
Over $250,000 in cuts were proposed to Special Education programs, and just under $250,000 were proposed in general district operations.
Should the board vote to approve the budget revisions at the end of the month, HSD would immediately see over $1 million in savings, and with each passing fiscal year would save additional money from the changes.
“I think it’s wonderful that the budget is looking better than it has in the past,” said HSD Trustee Margie Barrios. “Of course cuts are never positive, but it’s good that we have options and a chance to prioritize… so between now and the end of the month, it’s study time.”
In June, HSD was given a letter of qualified financial certification by the County Office of Education, meaning that district faced state takeover if they could not find some way to pay their bills. County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley said he was waiting for more information before he would comment.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com
