school budget cuts |
As schools let out for the summer, what's on the mind of many people will be what will be there in the fall.
Last week, the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education made cuts in closing a $63,000,000 budget gap. The Board made recommendations like increasing class sizes for certain grades, increases in lunch prices, and even cuts in school supplies. However, after that marathon 11-hour budget meeting last week, tonight, the Board received more bad news. It learned that the district may face an additional $84,000,000 shortfall the following fiscal year.
The district's Chief Financial Officier, James Masias said that state funding remains a huge question mark, and that it has done nothing to fix the problem. The Board was supposed to vote on approving a first reading of the budget, but postponed that until a special meeting next Tuesday. The Board will make its final budget recommendations for fiscal year 2009-10, on June 23rd. A presentation of the budget must be made to the County Office of Education on July 1st. "Last week, we were looking at about 106 million dollars in cuts, and we came within 1.9 million dollars in that, and we were still going to be looking into other areas where it's going to be investigated," said school board member John Lee Evans.
And while there is a lot to consider when it comes to the budget, the Board did approve a resolution to investigate whether University of California, and California State University guidelines will work in classroom curriculum. Students from throughout the county, rallied in front of the district offices in support of A-G courses. Organizers said that students in more affluent neighborhoods have more opportunities in college-prep courses than those in poorer neighborhoods. "Our school district should not pursue, that some students are not interested or are not capable of completing college or enhanced workforce capabilities," said student David Morales.
Students that receive a D or F in a class would have to retake it under the new curriculum. The resolution passed 4-1 where the superintendent would have to form a committee to explore the A-G coursework possibility. Organizers say a report should be given later this year.
Last week, the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education made cuts in closing a $63,000,000 budget gap. The Board made recommendations like increasing class sizes for certain grades, increases in lunch prices, and even cuts in school supplies. However, after that marathon 11-hour budget meeting last week, tonight, the Board received more bad news. It learned that the district may face an additional $84,000,000 shortfall the following fiscal year.
The district's Chief Financial Officier, James Masias said that state funding remains a huge question mark, and that it has done nothing to fix the problem. The Board was supposed to vote on approving a first reading of the budget, but postponed that until a special meeting next Tuesday. The Board will make its final budget recommendations for fiscal year 2009-10, on June 23rd. A presentation of the budget must be made to the County Office of Education on July 1st. "Last week, we were looking at about 106 million dollars in cuts, and we came within 1.9 million dollars in that, and we were still going to be looking into other areas where it's going to be investigated," said school board member John Lee Evans.
And while there is a lot to consider when it comes to the budget, the Board did approve a resolution to investigate whether University of California, and California State University guidelines will work in classroom curriculum. Students from throughout the county, rallied in front of the district offices in support of A-G courses. Organizers said that students in more affluent neighborhoods have more opportunities in college-prep courses than those in poorer neighborhoods. "Our school district should not pursue, that some students are not interested or are not capable of completing college or enhanced workforce capabilities," said student David Morales.
Students that receive a D or F in a class would have to retake it under the new curriculum. The resolution passed 4-1 where the superintendent would have to form a committee to explore the A-G coursework possibility. Organizers say a report should be given later this year.
