PUSD To Vote on Budget Cuts

Facing inevitable budget reductions, the Pleasanton Unified School Board discussed possible cuts in programs and services at its special board meeting Tuesday night.

 The district is expecting an estimated $7.7 million shortfall in the 2011-12 school year. The recommended cuts presented would save the district approximately $3.1 million.

The majority of the expected deficit stems from Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed special election in June that would extend $9 billion in taxes, according to Luz Cazares, assistant superintendent of business services.

Cazares said Tuesday night that the $5.4 million that would be generated from a voter approval of tax extensions is not definite.

“There is no guarantee that the Legislature will call for that election and there is no guarantee that voters will approve it, so we are planning on the possibility that those dollars are not extended,” Cazares said.

Pleasanton Unified’s budget solutions focus on:

• Reducing spending by cutting programs and services and negotiating employee concessions
• Enhancing revenues through fundraising campaigns and the possibility of approval for a parcel tax
• Spending its reserves that total $5.3 million.

The reserve total is separate from the 3 percent reserve that the district has in tact for emergencies, Cazares said.

Board members expressed regret in having to make cuts in services without thorough knowledge of next year’s budget.

Board President Valerie Arkin said that the cuts must be made, however, because of all the uncertainty around what funds will lack.

Board member Chris Grant apologized to the community for having to make cuts again.

“We hate this,” Grant said. “There’s not a single program on this list that’s not incredibly important.”

The following is the list of the proposed cutbacks for the 2011-12 school year:

• Reduce the district's support of the Barton Reading Program by 50 percent.
• Increase the student-counselor ratio at the high school level from 468:1 to 518:1. 
• Additional management personnel furloughs of 11 days in the next three years.
• Reduce middle school counseling services.
• Secure $150,000 from the ROP funds in addition to the $300,000 secured in the current year.
• Reduce classified support positions.
• Reduce reading specialists by 50 percent at the elementary schools.
• Increase student-to-teacher ratio at the ninth-grade level from 25:1 to 32:1.
• Reduce one specialist section weekly for elementary schools.
• Increase class sizes in K-3 from 25:1 to 30:1. 

The possibility of additional furlough days as another method of savings was brought to the table. One furlough day totals $450,000 in savings, district leaders said.

Which cuts will be made is slated to be voted on at the board’s next regular meeting.

Approximately $4.6 million was saved through furloughs, increased teacher-to-student ratios and cutting seventh period during the school day last year. These savings stemmed from agreements with the Association of Pleasanton Teachers.

The teacher’s union and school district will also publically present their initial bargaining proposals for the 2011-12 school year.

The union is seeking changes within its health and welfare benefits and job share limits. Pleasanton Unified is looking to find agreements regarding hours of employment and class sizes.

Both parties have agreed to discuss changes to the school year calendar and salaries.

Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi said while the cuts are necessary, it is important to remember that all employees – including teachers, administrators and classified employees are – are important to the district.

 “When it’s year after year after year, it hurts,” Ahmadi said about the possible budget cuts.

Since 2008, the district has made $16.4 million in cuts – $3.4 million in 2010-11, $11 million in 2009-10 and $2 million in 2008-09.

The board's next regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22. For an agenda, check the district’s website by clicking here.