Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
In spite of budget proposal, local schools hurting
Budget cuts spread pain to workers, repairs remain on hold
by David Abbott
Sonoma West Interim Editor
Despite the Governor and legislators finally getting together to release a budget, local school districts are bracing for difficult mid-year cuts, and putting off needed maintenance as they attempt to remain functional.
According to the California Budget Project, a non-partisan budget analysis organization, the Governor’s proposed budget cuts will amount to a $4.3 billion statewide loss over the next 18 months from the K-12 school system.
In Sonoma County, that translates to $48 million less this year than last.
For the Sebastopol and Twin Hills Union School Districts, that means a loss of about $691,000 and $270,000 respectively
“We’ve been suspect of the state budget for about 18 months now,” said Sebastopol Union Superintendent David Wheeler, who oversees Park Side Elementary, Pine Crest Elementary, and Brook Haven Middle schools.
Wheeler’s district began a spending freeze in November 2007, on such things as travel and school supplies.
He thought he began the process soon enough to weather the worst of the budget storm, but by the time the 2008/09 budget came out, “something didn’t smell good.”
He began at the top, and cut his own salary down to 30 percent, but in order for the system to remain solvent, he finds that he’ll have to reduce spending by another 10 percent.
“It really comes down to people,” Wheeler said.
His office — which no longer has a Chief Business Officer, and has been reduced from a staff of five to a staff of three — has begun the painful process of handing out layoff notices.
He’s going to have to reduce the equivalent of eight full-time teachers, which will affect 11 out of 56 employees.
Wheeler has been forced to cut personnel in order to keep his structural programs intact.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and these are the worst budget cuts I’ve ever seen,” he said.
The Sebastopol Union District must cut about $500,000 from its budget. Freezing the Business Officer position saved about $100,000, and he’s cut his own pay back, even though he still has to oversee the district.
He’s reduced classified staff — instructional aides, custodians and food service — and has worked closely with teachers’ unions in order to help maintain benefits.
As to any benefits that might have come from the federal stimulus package, most of that is for special needs and Title I, low-income students.
The toughest part about the cuts is that they come at mid-year, when there is little wiggle room for salary negotiation, which is the only place that’s really left to cut.
But at least Wheeler doesn’t have any critical maintenance waiting to be done, like other districts.
On top of his district’s budget woes, Twin Hills Superintendent Les Crawford is also dealing with a leaky roof that needs to be fixed.
At the last meeting of the board of trustees, the district approved sending a letter to new 5th District Supervisor Efren Carrillo to try to gain support for funding.
The purpose of the letter is to try to get the attention of the legislature on a deferred maintenance project.
Twin Hills Middle School applied for, and relieved a critical hardship grant in December 2007 in the amount of $1.2 million for a new roof.
The roof leaks and there is water damage, but unfortunately, the state has yet to release the funds. The letter was intended to “rattle the cage” a bit.
“We’ve already received the blessing of the state, but we’re stuck doing stop-gap measures,” Crawford said.
According to Crawford, there has not been mold issues this year because of the dry weather, but it could become a problem if there is more rain.
He believes that it’s a good project for proposed stimulus money, because the project has been approved and the district has done the groundwork.
Twin Hills could move forward in short order, rather quickly since the project is in the top 10 on the state list.
“We’ve been hoping the legislation would help,” Crawford said. “It’s a safety and health issue.”
Crawford said that the school would have used bond money, but the state has been sitting on it due to the budget standoff.
Once the budget was signed though, Crawford was contacted by the State Allocation Board and informed that until the Governor and the state release funds, the district will just have to wait.
“We’re in a holding pattern,” he said.
But the funding would take care of a significant need, according to Crawford, and following the spirit of the federal stimulus bill, would provide a “shovel ready” project that could begin immediately.
“Some projects can take years to go through the process just to begin,” he said. “This one is poised and ready to go.”
Crawford added getting the project underway would also help local contractors that are hurting financially, but his hands are tied.
As to the rest of the budget, Crawford said that there is no waste and no “fat” to cut. He added that there is a lot more oversight on small school districts than giant state level bureaucracies, but the state usually doesn’t take that into account when it demands cuts.
“We’ve been close to the edge for years trying to function within general funds,” Crawford said. “It’s already a ‘no frills’ operation.”
He added that now it comes down to a choice between laying people off or cutting programs.
“It’s a Catch 22,” he said. “If you cut programs, it’s likely that you won’t be able to bring them back.”
With declining enrollment happening throughout West County school districts, the ability to draw students often comes down to extracurricular programs. Often when those programs disappear, so does the school’s appeal.
The Twin Hills District depends on its Foundation to provide cultural programs, but the schools can’t afford a lot of music and arts, and once they’re gone they “go by the wayside,” according to Crawford.
Crawford’s biggest disappointment is that his parents moved to California for its then-world class education system, but now he sees other states that spend more than twice per pupil.
Now that the budget has finally been released, Crawford knows he’s going to have to make hard decisions.
“Once you know how bad the cuts are, it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “It’s gonna be a tough year.”
According to the California Budget Project, a non-partisan budget analysis organization, the Governor’s proposed budget cuts will amount to a $4.3 billion statewide loss over the next 18 months from the K-12 school system.
In Sonoma County, that translates to $48 million less this year than last.
For the Sebastopol and Twin Hills Union School Districts, that means a loss of about $691,000 and $270,000 respectively
“We’ve been suspect of the state budget for about 18 months now,” said Sebastopol Union Superintendent David Wheeler, who oversees Park Side Elementary, Pine Crest Elementary, and Brook Haven Middle schools.
Wheeler’s district began a spending freeze in November 2007, on such things as travel and school supplies.
He thought he began the process soon enough to weather the worst of the budget storm, but by the time the 2008/09 budget came out, “something didn’t smell good.”
He began at the top, and cut his own salary down to 30 percent, but in order for the system to remain solvent, he finds that he’ll have to reduce spending by another 10 percent.
“It really comes down to people,” Wheeler said.
His office — which no longer has a Chief Business Officer, and has been reduced from a staff of five to a staff of three — has begun the painful process of handing out layoff notices.
He’s going to have to reduce the equivalent of eight full-time teachers, which will affect 11 out of 56 employees.
Wheeler has been forced to cut personnel in order to keep his structural programs intact.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and these are the worst budget cuts I’ve ever seen,” he said.
The Sebastopol Union District must cut about $500,000 from its budget. Freezing the Business Officer position saved about $100,000, and he’s cut his own pay back, even though he still has to oversee the district.
He’s reduced classified staff — instructional aides, custodians and food service — and has worked closely with teachers’ unions in order to help maintain benefits.
As to any benefits that might have come from the federal stimulus package, most of that is for special needs and Title I, low-income students.
The toughest part about the cuts is that they come at mid-year, when there is little wiggle room for salary negotiation, which is the only place that’s really left to cut.
But at least Wheeler doesn’t have any critical maintenance waiting to be done, like other districts.
On top of his district’s budget woes, Twin Hills Superintendent Les Crawford is also dealing with a leaky roof that needs to be fixed.
At the last meeting of the board of trustees, the district approved sending a letter to new 5th District Supervisor Efren Carrillo to try to gain support for funding.
The purpose of the letter is to try to get the attention of the legislature on a deferred maintenance project.
Twin Hills Middle School applied for, and relieved a critical hardship grant in December 2007 in the amount of $1.2 million for a new roof.
The roof leaks and there is water damage, but unfortunately, the state has yet to release the funds. The letter was intended to “rattle the cage” a bit.
“We’ve already received the blessing of the state, but we’re stuck doing stop-gap measures,” Crawford said.
According to Crawford, there has not been mold issues this year because of the dry weather, but it could become a problem if there is more rain.
He believes that it’s a good project for proposed stimulus money, because the project has been approved and the district has done the groundwork.
Twin Hills could move forward in short order, rather quickly since the project is in the top 10 on the state list.
“We’ve been hoping the legislation would help,” Crawford said. “It’s a safety and health issue.”
Crawford said that the school would have used bond money, but the state has been sitting on it due to the budget standoff.
Once the budget was signed though, Crawford was contacted by the State Allocation Board and informed that until the Governor and the state release funds, the district will just have to wait.
“We’re in a holding pattern,” he said.
But the funding would take care of a significant need, according to Crawford, and following the spirit of the federal stimulus bill, would provide a “shovel ready” project that could begin immediately.
“Some projects can take years to go through the process just to begin,” he said. “This one is poised and ready to go.”
Crawford added getting the project underway would also help local contractors that are hurting financially, but his hands are tied.
As to the rest of the budget, Crawford said that there is no waste and no “fat” to cut. He added that there is a lot more oversight on small school districts than giant state level bureaucracies, but the state usually doesn’t take that into account when it demands cuts.
“We’ve been close to the edge for years trying to function within general funds,” Crawford said. “It’s already a ‘no frills’ operation.”
He added that now it comes down to a choice between laying people off or cutting programs.
“It’s a Catch 22,” he said. “If you cut programs, it’s likely that you won’t be able to bring them back.”
With declining enrollment happening throughout West County school districts, the ability to draw students often comes down to extracurricular programs. Often when those programs disappear, so does the school’s appeal.
The Twin Hills District depends on its Foundation to provide cultural programs, but the schools can’t afford a lot of music and arts, and once they’re gone they “go by the wayside,” according to Crawford.
Crawford’s biggest disappointment is that his parents moved to California for its then-world class education system, but now he sees other states that spend more than twice per pupil.
Now that the budget has finally been released, Crawford knows he’s going to have to make hard decisions.
“Once you know how bad the cuts are, it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “It’s gonna be a tough year.”
Share this Article
 |
||
| Palm Drive goes for another escape from Chapter 9 |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of sonomawest.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
Popular Searches