District must close $1.8 million funding shortfall
San Benito High School District trustees this week approved most
of the proposed cuts to fill a $1.8 million shortfall for the
2010-11 year, while they delayed a decision on
non-personnel-related items
– such as the idea to decrease the athletic department budget by
$100,000 – and proposals affecting employees who are
”
unrepresented
”
or in the classified designation.
Trustees did approve cuts to the area designated as
”
certificated
”
workers
– including teachers – that make up $891,000 of the reduction,
or 65 percent of it. Superintendent Stan Rose noted how officials
surmised it would amount to 13 positions at this point, while a
precise number is unclear because it could be affected by union
negotiations.
District must close $1.8 million funding shortfall
San Benito High School District trustees this week approved most of the proposed cuts to fill a $1.8 million shortfall for the 2010-11 year, while they delayed a decision on non-personnel-related items – such as the idea to decrease the athletic department budget by $100,000 – and proposals affecting employees who are “unrepresented” or in the classified designation.
Trustees did approve cuts to the area designated as “certificated” workers – including teachers – that make up $891,000 of the reduction, or 65 percent of it. Superintendent Stan Rose noted how officials surmised it would amount to 13 positions at this point, while a precise number is unclear because it could be affected by union negotiations.
For classified and unrepresented employees – which includes administration – he said trustees felt comfortable with progress on other areas within those designations that can be cut.
Classified employee groups were scheduled to experience $304,000 in cuts, or 22 percent of the overall reduction, and unrepresented staff members would take on 12 percent of the reduction, or $167,000, according to the district.
“The board made reference to the fact that there seem to be good, positive discussions going on among the classified staff and the administration on other solutions,” he said.
District officials made the decision about certificated employees this week because there is a March 15 deadline to notify the affected employees their on the potential layoff list.
“What’s important about those decisions,” Rose said regarding certificated employees, “they had to be made subject to timelines required by law. They can be amended or changed, rescinded, if other solutions come forward.”
San Benito High School’s teachers union President Mitch Huerta last week, while rallying with other teachers and staff members from the school on the “Day of Action” for education, declined to comment on talks between the group and district. But he did emphasize how the state must give education a higher priority when it comes to funding.
Rose appeared to agree and said the state as a whole has to do a “values check” about where dollars are going. He noted how California spends a lot more money per capita on prisoners and youth authority inmates than it does on students.
“We may need to reconsider the values we’re working under,” Rose said.
For now, though, local officials here and elsewhere must deal with the reality of dwindling funds and continued, multi-billion-dollar deficits. While there are plans to use $300,000 in reserves to make up part of the deficit, trustees before next school year must figure out the remaining $600,000 or so in needed reductions.
Other proposed maneuvers to go along with staff reductions include having students with “F” grades make up the classes in summer school, cutting the travel budget by $10,000 and reducing department budgets by a total of $40,000.
Some programs would be eliminated altogether such as AVID and 10th Grade Academy, according to the district.
