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Porterville Unified School District's reserve will lessen the impact of the budget cuts for the 2008-2009 school year.
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PUSD delivers agenda for state's proposed budget crunch
Sabrina Ziegler | 2/14/08 | News
ednesday, teachers, administrators, and counselors alike fled to the Monache High School campus center to receive an overview of how their jobs will be affected if a $4.8 billion across-the-board budget cut proposal passes California legislation. Dr. John Snavely, Superintendent, gave a presentation in which he revealed a "worst-case scenario" fiscal plan for the Porterville Unified School District.
The proposed budget reduction would impact PUSD with a loss of Cost of Living Allowance funds, per pupil spending, and interest, as well as create deficits to categorical programs: a total loss of $7.04 million.
"We're hoping that it's not a big thing on the current year," Snavely said.
Snavely said they will not have information about the notification of the bill being vetoed or tacked on to until March.
"We hope this is a one-year process, but we're not expecting that at this point," Snavely said.
The school board and district have been working together to develop proposals for securing the education system.
"We have fine-tuned this down where we think we can do just fine next year. We're quite unique [because] our money is in reserve," he said.
Even though these reserves could possibly mean PUSD won't be facing severe setbacks, the district and board are focusing intently on the worst case scenario.
This would include a $300 million cut, according to Granite Hills Principal Veryl Ann Duncan.
"Nothing is for sure yet. If [the education bill] does pass, it could be severe. They're just preparing for the worst. They're very careful about the district budget," Duncan said.
One item of the district's plan, she said, would be to keep the classes at 30 students minimum and the AP classes at 20 students minimum. This could possibly mean that smaller Advanced Placement classes could have to be combined at one local school, which would entail busing students.
Fortunately, for teachers, the district has not included it in their agenda to begin handing out pink slips.
"It's not likely they will need to cut jobs. They’re just waiting to see how many teachers resign and retire, which is about 30 to 40 each year," Duncan said.
Snavely addressed his crowd of district employees: "This [plan] is not going to impact 90 percent of you. [However,] Many of you may not be doing the same thing next year as this year. We'll be doing reassignments. We don't expect to give out pink slips."
In order to cut down on staff, "we're looking at early retirement options but we don't have any proposals at this point," Snavely said. However, "if you could tell us between now and February 7, [that you plan on retiring], as opposed to waiting till June, we will give you $500." This, he said would be certificated only, and would not be considered a “golden handshake," such as would be the case in an early retirement program.
Overall, he said, the board wants to see the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.
Snavely wrapped up his presentation by urging cooperation from PUSD employees: "The point I'd really like to hammer home is: collectively, if we can try to contact Sacramento with our local legislators, hopefully we can have an impact. It's critical that we stand up for ourselves. We don't want to see the education of California devastated from these cut. Contact your legislators. Contact your governor’s office," he advised them.
"[I came here today] to be informed. You have to be informed to make decisions. You worry about how [this is] going to affect you in the classroom. This gives you an overall picture of what the district is thinking and what the board in thinking. [Now] I have a better view of what their looking at," said Mona Romandia, a Kindergarten dual-emersion teacher at Santa Fe,
The number of people who participate in the goings-on that affect schools, is much less than what it should be, according to John Miller, a fifth grade teacher at Doyle Elementary School.
"This was an informational meeting. It is important that people take the time to understand what is going on; not only in the state but in the country." The Education budget cuts are the result of our national economy, Miller said.
PUSD and other school districts will have to hold-tight until receiving news upon whether or not the budget cuts receive House and Senate approval, which should be determined by May.
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