| District prepares for major budget cuts (02/08) | | Print | |
| Written by Amy Seaman | |
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Schools throughout the state may have to scale down staff and services after governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a $4.8 billion educational budget cut as a part of a series of cuts aimed at bringing the state out of a projected $14.5 billion deficit.
Funding cuts in the district could add up to roughly $40 million if the governor’s initial financial plan is passed. “We will not know (if it passed) for a while, at least until the governor does the May revise,” Board of Education president Mark Sanchez said. The proposed amount would equal the salaries of about 260 teachers, according to Board of Education commissioner Norman Yee. “The cuts will take place across the board,” he said. “We will have to cut everywhere, and we will not be able to save the cuts from the classrooms.” Board of Education commissioner Jill Wynns cautioned that the budget crisis may lead to difficult choices. “People may be shocked by the things we have to consider cutting,” she said. “For instance, there are special-ed cuts, and we may be cutting down the nutrition program, even though we have been trying to put money into both.” The budget cuts could lead to larger classes as well as limited visual and performing arts and other electives, according to Wynns. “If you have less money, you have fewer teachers,” she said. “Fewer teacher means bigger classes and fewer electives, and fewer advanced language and advanced placement classes.” These budget cuts will not exclude Lowell. “I can’t say for sure how Lowell may be affected,” Ishibashi said. “There are possibilities of larger class sizes, offering less electives and possibly not letting students take a seventh class.” However, the impact of the cuts could be softened, according to Sanchez. “The cuts may not be as big as projected, especially if the legislature decides to raise taxes,” he said. "Everyone’s just going to have to cross their fingers.” Should the cuts make their way through the legislature, the city has an alternate plan. The district plans to tap into the Rainy Day Fund, a fund that sets aside excess revenues for times of financial need. Currently, the fund contains $122 million. “The school district is eligible for up to 30 percent of the Rainy Day Fund, if we meet certain requirements,” Wynns said. “We will have to receive less money per student and lay off teachers before we will be able to use this fund.” Wynns warned that using all of the money from the Rainy Day Fund over the next year would be unwise, however. “It’s taken years to build up that much money, so even if you could get access, it would not be a good idea,” she said. “What would we do next year? The fund doesn't replenish itself.” In order to activate the Rainy Day Fund, the district will have to send out preliminary layoff notices to teachers next month. “We are required by law to give teachers pink slips by March 15 even though we don’t actually know what our budget will be until July or August,” Wynns explained. Teachers with the least seniority will be receiving these pink-slips, according to principal Andy Ishibashi, who added that Lowell would give out final notices on May 15. The district is also preserving a portion of the Proposition H funds to remedy possible damages due to budget cuts, according to school board student delegate senior Jason Siu. “The ‘third-third fund’ of Prop. H was initially allocated to fund programs and resources that would enrich the school system,” he said. “However, due to the proposed budget cut, we have to put on hold many great programs that were recommended by the community advisory committee.” Ishibashi said that the help of the Parent Teacher Student Association and the Lowell Alumni Association, could lessen the severity of layoffs. LAA director of alumni relations and development Terry Abad believes that the PTSA and LAA may be able to raise enough money to cushion the budget cut’s effects, which could mean losing 18 staff members. “It will be tough because this is different than just a one-time thing,” he said. “It’s like asking someone who gave $100 dollars to give $1,000 instead.” Previously, the organizations have only had to donate approximately $500,000 in order to keep the school running. According to Sanchez, the district will not know final budget numbers until August. Last Friday, the state legislature passed a $1.02 billion budget cut that includes a $507 million cut from the state’s education fund that will be implemented before the end of the school year. “The legislature said it will not affect us directly because it will remain at the state level,” Wynns said. “But I think it will go down the line, from the state to the district and eventually to the school levels.” Last Monday, the board passed superintendent Carlos Garcia’s resolution urging school boards statewide to collectively rally against the governor’s initial budget proposal. “It’s just a statement of commitment on our part,” Wynns explained. “We’re sending it to the press, other school boards, everyone.” The district’s Student Advisory Council and the city’s Youth Commission have already taken action against the cuts by writing letters to elected officials. Wynns urges parents and students to take action. “There is a lot of talk about political action like demonstrations and petitions,” Wynns said. “These things do work: If every kid in Lowell wrote a letter to their assemblyman and made a visit to the office of a state representative, they might be able to prevent the cuts from being passed.” |
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