KELSEYVILLE — After carrying over a vote of approval on a plan of nearly $2.3 million in possible budget cuts, the Kelseyville Unified School District”s board of trustees voted unanimously to approve the proposed fiscal recovery plan Wednesday night in a second special meeting.
The meeting, that was both shorter in length and had a smaller audience than Tuesday”s special meeting, lasted an hour and 15 minutes and approximately 15 people attended.
The approved fiscal recovery plan would save the district $2,293,400: $247,000 for the current 2010-2011 school year, an additional $867,000 for the 2011-2012 school year and an additional $1,178,700 for the 2012-2013 school year. The plan includes possible layoffs and even a possible radical restructuring of schools if the district found itself in extreme circumstances.
The district could combine Kelseyville Elementary School and Riviera Elementary School into two Kindergarten to eighth grade (K-8) schools and close Mountain Vista Middle School, which could save the district about $127,000. The district voted to approve this possible action for just the 2012-2013 school year.
Many jobs were put on the table for possible layoffs, including custodial positions, secretaries, skilled maintenance workers, library clerks, campus monitors, computer trainers and instructional aides. The possible layoffs could save the district an estimated $519,700 for the 2011-2012 school year and an estimated $692,700 for the 2012-2013 school year.
A reduction in the district”s budget for certificated extra duty and substitute teachers could save the district an estimated $220,000 during the next two school years.
The district may close the Ed Donaldson Continuation High School, located at 3980 Gard Street. This would save the district an estimated $49,400 in the next two school years. The district would then be forced to move the services provided at the continuation school, which includes the continuation high school, night classes for Mendocino College, after school education and AmeriCorps, to other schools throughout the district.
The district may eliminate the adult education program, which is a service currently provided at the continuation school, for the 2012-2013 school year in an effort to save an estimated $11,000.
Board members also chose to put a cap on their health and welfare benefits, which could save the district $24,000 in the next two school years.
The district decided not to fill two elementary teacher positions after receiving letters of retirement. This will save the district $380,000 in the next two school years.
The board did not choose to eliminate everything outlined on the recovery plan.
Funding for all district athletics was taken off the table, which would have saved the district an estimated $236,000 in two years.
Two other school closing and restructuring scenarios were decided against. The two scenarios had been voted against previously in November 2010.
One scenario would have seen Mountain Vista Middle close and created two K-6 schools and brought seventh and eighth graders to the high school for a possible savings of $358,000 in two years.
The other scenario would have seen Riviera Elementary close and a combining of Kelseyville Elementary and Mountain Vista Middle into a super campus for a possible savings of $824,000 in two years.
The board chose to keep the yearbook and K-CORPS elective classes at Kelseyville High School. Eliminating the two electives would have saved the district an estimated $12,600 in two years.
The district will continue to have an afternoon bus route for students. Had the district chosen to eliminate it, there would have been a possible savings of $24,000 in two years.
The district will be hiring a new principal for Kelseyville Elementary. Had the district chose to not fill the position, the job duties would have been divided amongst other administrators and the district would have saved an estimated $216,000 in two years.
Several negotiable items still exist where the district could receive concessions from the teacher”s and classified employee”s unions to save money and some people from layoffs. The items that can be negotiated include furlough days, changes to health and welfare benefits, an increase in class sizes and some salary rollbacks.
All board members said they were put in a difficult position and expressed frustration with having to make decisions that could impact both district employees and students.
“I would never support cutting sports,” Board member Chris Irwin said.
Board president Rick Winer said he would not support eliminating the K-CORPS elective, even saying he would go before the Lake County Board of Supervisors to ask for help in offsetting the cost of the elective.
This prompted District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, who was present at the meeting, to step up to the podium. He said he couldn”t imagine the other supervisors saying no to help fund the elective, calling K-CORPS a “valuable service.”
Many of the jobs facing possible layoffs were debated thoroughly, including testimony from the public gathered Tuesday night, before being voted on.
Board member John DeChaine said the situation was an “overwhelming position to be in,” but said the board wanted to “impact the classrooms as little as possible.”
District Superintendent David McQueen said district employee benefit packages are “the best in the county,” calling them the “elephant in the room for years.” McQueen said they will have to be dealt with at the negotiating level.
McQueen asked those gathered to talk to their elected officials to make sure they approve tax extensions asked for by Gov. Jerry Brown, some of which help fund education throughout the state.
If these tax extensions are approved, McQueen said the district would need to make $1.6 million in reductions. The $2.3 million figure is what the district needs to come up with if the extensions are not approved.
McQueen said a full report on the fiscal recovery plan will be included on the agenda for Tuesday night”s regularly scheduled school board meeting, which will take place at 7 p.m. at the district office board room.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly at 263-5636 ext. 14.
