Community Rallies Behind Its Programs & Schools as ABC Budget Talks Continue

Signs labeled "We Love Band!" and "Some Cuts Never Heal" flooded past the door of the Board Room on the evening of March 6, as a torrent of concerned students and parents rallied against possible cuts due to the lack of funding for the next school year. The board ultimately voted 5-0 to adopt their budget contingency plans.

As stated in the past two board meetings, due to Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal - resulting in an additional $7.4 million reduction in the district's funding could mean two major contingency plans for the district. Plan A includes voters approving the governor's tax initiative, with a resulting deficit of about $8.5 million. Plan B entails about a $15.9 million deficit for the district if voters are against the tax initiative. Adult school and elementary music program funding is on the line for possible cuts should the plans, as currently stated, take place.

Warming up the mic on the subject was Ray Gaer of the ABC Federation of Teachers during the Employee Representatives' Reports.

"Everybody is involved in this," Gaer said. "Your input is greatly appreciated. Being in the room is a strong, strong message. There are no good cuts. No escapes. There's no magic pots of money hidden anywhere. And there are no red shoes that click that can take us back to Kansas."

Taking the reigns of the official agenda item regarding the budget plans was soon-to-be Superintendent, Dr. Mary Sieu. Sieu said there will be no recommendations to lay off any permanent employees. Despite what was presented during the last meeting, the district will not include closing schools, reducing staffs and eliminating transportation in its plans.

"We are obligated to file a budget report to the county office by March 15 to ensure that we are fiscally balanced, and that we have positive certification like we have had historically," Sieu said. "I'd like to emphasize that these budget plans that you see in front of us - Plan A and Plan B - are only preliminary. What you see in Plan A and Plan B does not imply that the cuts will be made next year."

Plan A - Deficit To Be Addressed: $8,486,000
Additional Categorical Flexibility Transfer
(Adult School $320,000, ROP $120,000) - $440,000
Transfer from Adult Education's Fund Balance - $450,000
Strategic Hiring – $430,000
Utilize the balance of the Education Jobs Act - $1,940,000
Utilize the District Fund Balance - $3,196,000
Implement four furlough days - $2,160,000

Total: $8,846,000

Plan B - Deficit To Be Addressed: $15,886,000
Does not require negotiations:
Charge for Home-to-School transporation: $200,000
Reduce extra curricular activities (sports, band, cheer...): $250,000
Increase K-3 grades class size from 28 to 30 students: $400,000
Additional Categorical Flexibility Transfer: $2,480,000
(Adult School $1,740,000, ROP $740,000)
Reduce school site budgets: $250,000
Transfer from Adult Education Fund's Balance: $900,000
Strategic Hiring: $300,000
Utilize the balance of the Education Jobs Act: $1,940,000
Utilize the District Fund Balance: $4,130,000
Eliminate ES band program: $240,000

Requires negotiations:
Implement four furlough days: $2,160,000
Add three additional furlough days: $1,620,000
Cap the District's contribution to health benefits at $1 million: $200,000
Reduce substitute cost at secondary schools: $316,000

Reduce stipends and hourly pay: $500,000
Total: $15,886,000

Public Reactions

During the public comments section, many residents - young and old - voiced their thoughts and concerns about the programs and services that could get the axe if the contingency plans don't change.

Marching Band Section leads, Philip Sugui and Juana Castro, both approached the podium with nothing but praise for elementary school music programs. Sugui recalled a moment in elementary school when he heard his school's band playing Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" from the hallway. It was the initial spark for his interest in music. Castro said, initially, music was the "coolest thing ever" to her.

"If I wasn't exposed to it (music), earlier in time, I probably wouldn't be in band right now," Castro said. "Band has changed me in so many ways. It has taught me responsibility, how important it is to be part of a group and to do your part and how important it is to practice and put dedication into everything."

English as a Second Language Adult School students like Maria Monzon and Leticia Trejo explained why they needed the  and spoke on the importance of living in the same city as their school. Trejo explained how she went to her child's elementary school and read a story to a class. It was the first time she ever read out loud in English, which her daughter found very special. Monzon is glad the adult school is also near her home.

"This is good because most of us don't have cars," Monzon said.

Recently-elected boardmember, Lynda Johnson, said she is sad to be part of the decision-making process. Despite this, she said she has the utmost confidence in Sieu and Chief Financial Officer Toan Nguyen, who has been presenting the bulk of the recent budget numbers presented in the past meetings.

"We're talking about cuts that affect employees, that affect their whole life, that affect their children and cuts that affect students," Johnson said. "They're cuts that affect people."

According to Superintedent Gary Smuts, the budget is not an action budget, and is merely going to the county as preliminary plans. There are no plans or actions taken based on the budget. Smuts said the budget plan that does count will be submitted in June.

The next school board meeting will be held on March 20.