School Board Proposes Budget for 2011-12

The details of a preliminary budget for the 2011-12 school year were presented to the Scotts Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday night. The board, however, is choosing to hold off on approving a final budget until the state approves its budget.

At this point, the district is modeling its plan in the hope that the state budget Gov. Jerry Brown presented in May will at least somewhat resemble the budget that is ultimately approved.

Chief business officer for the district, Karen Jelcick, told the board that although Proposition 25—passed last November—allows a simple majority to pass a budget, a two-thirds vote is still required to suspend Proposition 98. This proposition requires that the state spend at least 39 percent of its general fund on education, and is strongly supported by the governor. The fact that Gov. Brown vetoed the state budget last week on the basis that it was “gimmicky” and could further risk California's credit rating may be an indication that he is going to also stand firm on his promise to uphold Prop. 98.

“Until we get a state budget we are willing to accept the $330 [cut per student],” Jelcick said.

While still in the dark about what the final funding allocations to local districts will be, local officials have not stopped brainstorming ideas to streamline operations. One idea being looked at by the SVUSD is collaborating with Santa Cruz City School District on transportation services to special needs students. It is unclear how much this will save at this point, but the board was hopeful about this idea because it is something that wouldn't reduce any services on campuses.

In a closed session before Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved an agreement with the teachers’ unions involved, which resulted in savings of more than $173,000 for the next school year. The official reports on these concessions, which are mostly due to increased furlough days, will have to wait until the state hands in a final draft budget.

“We normally do formal financial reports, I'd say five times a year,” Jelcick said. “[Our] first interim budget is in October, but if [the state] is really late we will fold the preliminary budget into that first interim.”

However, after labor costs are dealt with, trimming the budget further will still be a challenge. Salaries and benefits account for 83 percent of the budget. Many vital programs have already been reduced to a single staff member or less. At Brook Knoll Elementary the budget lists the number of physical education aides as .56, and library clerks at a level of .49. Supplies for classes only account for two percent of the proposed budget.

“What's important for you to really look at here...is how lean we are in the schools,” Jelcick told the board. “If you look at Brook Knoll, we have one principal, and one and three quarters clerical, and then we have teachers, and then there are tiny little slivers of everything else.”

In other school board news, trustees were told that 166 of the 178 seniors at Scotts Valley High School graduated this year, which Supervisor Susan Silver said is slightly more than last year. Two of the students did receive certificates of completion, but were prevented from walking in the ceremony because they had not done the 60 hours of community service required between their freshman and senior years. Scotts Valley is the only school in Santa Cruz County with this requirement.

The board also reported positive news on the search for a new superintendent for the district, after conducting more interviews Monday. Board member Michael Shulman said that they can't give out any names yet but, “We think we have found someone we like.”