News Impacting CA School Districts Through December 4
Federal News
California is not just competing with other states to cash in on “Race to the Top” federal stimulus funds for education. Two rival bills have now been introduced- one in the state Assembly, the other in the state Senate – to ensure California is eligible to apply for grants. The bills are aimed at changing the state’s education system to meet the U.S. Department of Education’s application criteria for getting between $300 and $700 million in federal dollars. The Senate approved one version last month. But Assembly Education Committee Chair Julia Brownley has now introduced her own plan. The Assembly Education Committee is set to take up that bill Wednesday, with a full floor vote expected to follow. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said yesterday that he doesn’t think the Brownley bill does enough and urged quick action, citing the Jan. 19 “Race to the Top” application deadline. He supports the Senate version.
School District Impacts
Rather than cut $200 million from its $1.2 billion operating budget to offset massive funding reductions that are anticipated from the state, the San Diego school board wants the Legislature to rethink how it funds education. The San Diego school board passed a resolution that calls on the state to avoid making “draconian cuts … that will decimate the quality of education for all students.” The resolution goes on to state that the cuts could be avoided, “if the governor and state legislators make decisions to reform tax benefits for corporations or consider other new revenue options … .”
One issue the Oakland School board grappled was whether the central office — which now receives about 30 percent of the general purpose dollars — should absorb 70 percent of the $27 million cut, as CFO Vernon Hal and Superintendent Tony Smith proposed earlier this fall.
Antioch’s school district will go bankrupt in 18 months if it continues with business as usual. Superintendent Don Gill last month announced that in the face of state budget cuts the district will bring in a consultant agency in January to advise ways to consolidate programs and reduce costs.
Officials with the Long Beach Unified School District are considering cutting bus routes and increasing some class sizes next academic year to cope with state budget cuts. The proposed changes, which have not yet been approved by the Long Beach Board of Education, would raise class sizes in fourth- and fifth grades from 33 students per teacher to 35 students per teacher.
Lake Elsinore school officials are considering closing an elementary school and converting two other campuses to serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade as they look to cut into an expected $15.2 million budget deficit for the next school year.
The Brea Olinda Unified School District Board of Education will consider approving a tentative list of layoffs and reductions to be implemented in the 2010-11 school year. The cuts are needed to resolve a projected two-year $2 million deficit, school officials said. The list includes eliminating eight elementary and 13 high school teaching positions, custodial positions, as well as positions in information technology, accounting and in the district office. Funding for athletic teams could also be reduced.
Budget cuts are also impacting higher education. This year, admission requirements are tightening. Cuts in state funding have forced the Cal State systemto reduce enrollment over the next two years by 40,000. That means some campuses will turn away all but the most accomplished students. Others will favor applicants choosing under enrolled majors, or limit admission to local residents.
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