Schools face $4 million cut
LAKE COUNTY — Lake County schools are facing a possible $4 million mid-year budget cut, according to Lake County Superintendent of Schools Dave Geck. The proposed state budget cut comes on the heels of $3.8 million already cut at the beginning of the year, according to Geck.
“If we get a $425-per-student reduction, we will have to look at further staff reductions,” Geck said.
Geck said teachers will not be laid off in the next six months because they are under contract until June 2009. He said that leaves district superintendents to consider letting go of classified staff, aides and office staff if the state”s mid-year budget cuts materialize. He said educators across the county are waiting until the first few weeks of January to hear back from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger”s office.
Geck said he and the county”s seven district superintendents want parents to contact state legislators and push for budget solutions that mean less cuts to schools and more revenue-producing ideas, such as temporary tax increases.
Since last school year, the county”s schools have lost 25 instructional aides, 21 teachers, 12 office positions, five maintenance personnel, four administrators, two health aides, two school counselors and a library support position.
In addition, hours were cut for 17 part-time instructional aides, classroom supplies and materials were cut by 25 percent, extracurricular programs were cut and the Natural High School site in Lakeport was closed.
Superintendent Erin Smith-Hagberg said the Lakeport Unified School District has some classes that already have more students than ratio limits allow. In her district, the ratio is 20 students per adult in Kindergarten through third grade, 28 students per adult in grades four through six and 30 students per adult in grades seven through 12.
“Ratio limits are part of an agreement between the district and the teachers” labor union, and the districts need to resolve the issue for the 2009 ? 10 school year,” Geck said.
Smith-Hagberg said the impact on the Lakeport district could be as much as $500,000.
“It”s impossible to plan because we don”t have any answers. We are expecting the ax to fall, but we don”t know when or where,” Smith-Hagberg said.
Lucerne Elementary School District Superintendent Mike Brown said he would have to cut the school”s band program if the expected budget cuts happen. He said supplies were cut 25 percent and may be cut another 10 percent next year.
“You get to the point where you ask teachers to please save paper and don”t let the kids just draw on it, or maybe turn it over and use the back side,” Brown said.
According to Upper Lake Union High School District Superintendent Patrick Iaccino, the district may have to use Secure Rural Schools money awarded earlier this year because there is federal forestland in his district. If the budget cuts occur, he may have to use approximately $130,000 to cover part of the possible impact.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
