SPESD board begins process of making cuts in budget
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula News
Published: March 05, 2010
The Santa Paula Elementary School District board started the process of making more budget cuts Tuesday, as they try to erase an expected deficit of about $3 million dollars.
The board had already identified spending cuts last month, dropping the deficit to around $2 million. Coming out of a closed session at Tuesday night’s meeting, the Board took action to issue a notice of non-reelection to temporary certificated employees, pursuant to Education Code Section 44954, effective at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, and directed the Superintendent or designee to send out appropriate legal notices. The Board also took action to issue notices of non-reelection to probationary certificated employee(s). And the Board took action to issue a notice releasing and reassigning Assistant Principals, administrative employees.
The trustees were told of a formula being used to determine the number of library assistant and outreach consultant hours for each school. Assistant Superintendent for Business, Cathy Bojorquez said that the individual schools could increase the hours using categorical funds.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Moffett presented the board, meeting in the Glen City School cafeteria, with a resolution listing a reduction or discontinuance of particular kinds of service. He said they’ve done their best to have the least disruption to the educational program. “That’s not easy with the amount of money and the funds that we have to cut,” he said. “We’re at the very difficult point where the rubber meets the road and we have to make these hard decisions.”
The proposal included 15 possible cuts or reductions, such as K-8 GATE services, K-5 literacy coach services, K-5 reading teacher services, K-5 special education coach services, K-5 counseling services, middle school assistant principal services, middle school counseling services and sixth grade CORE classroom instruction services. The cuts equal 28.6 full time equivalent hours. Under state law, certificated employees with seniority can move into other positions. The district is required to notify certificated employees of possible layoffs or changes in hours by March 15. The board approved the resolution.
The board also had two side letter agreements presented to them between the district and the Santa Paula Federation of Teachers, Local 2071. The first agreement would change class sizes in some K-3 classrooms. The second letter would cut teacher preparation days to three at the beginning of the school year, with a compensation of $120 per day. Because the district filed a Qualified Interim Report with the County Schools Office, the County has to approve the side agreements. A Qualified Interim means that the district may not meet its obligations in the current and/or subsequent two years.
The next board meeting is set for Tuesday at 7:00 pm at the district headquarters.
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