Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's revised budget is less difficult for schools to handle than his January proposal, Simi Valley will still feel its impact.
As of right now, Simi Valley Unified School District must make $5.4 million in cuts. In January, the district had expected to lose $8.4 million.
"Everyone is affected by this," said Lowell Schultze, associate superintendent of business and facilities. "We still don't have a final budget, so we still don't know what the final thing is going to be. We're going on what the governor said in the May revise, which is better than in January. Our hope is that when the state passes the budget, it will be better yet. But there's no guarantee of that."
Three counselors and 13 elementary school teaching positions will be cut. Of those teachers who may not return if the budget stands, six were under temporary contracts for one year or less and seven were on probationary contracts, which means they were new employees of the district.
An assistant principal position at Wood Ranch Elementary School will not be filled for next school year.
No middle school or high school teachers are expected to lose their jobs.
"The reason (cuts were made) at the elementary level is we have declining enrollment," said Don Gaudioso, assistant superintendent of personnel services, "but we also had fewer retirees at the elementary level than we did at the secondary level."
Gaudioso said 59 district employees have filed for retirement, including 30 teachers. Although the number of teachers who resigned wasn't available at press time, a number of younger teachers are resigning and moving to states with cheaper housing, Gaudioso said.
"We're hoping right now is the worst-case scenario," Gaudioso said.
Several district management positions- including two information technology positions, a maintenance operator, an air conditioning technician and three vacant transportation positions- are part of the cuts.
After listening to Schultze's presentation on California's grim forecast, Simi Valley Unified's school board members remained perturbed. All five members sported badges demonstrating their opposition to the governor's latest budget revision during Tuesday's regular board meeting. Board President Rob Collins was in Sacramento May 16 through 19, marching in protest with fellow education leaders on the steps of the Capitol.
"As it stands now, this is a devastating budget for children in this state," Collins said.
The governor has proposed two plans to get the state back on track, but several members of the board and staff considered those tactics dubious. Schwarzenegger wants to get more money from the California Lottery, which has been flailing, and use those earnings for a revenue stabilization fund. The backup plan involves a 1-cent sales tax increase if the lottery strategy fails.
"It's better than the January proposal," Schultze said, "but it's still not good for education; it still means cuts."
source:svacorn
