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School Board Finds $4.1 Million to Cut
Teachers, psychologists, special-ed aides, health assistants and a junior high assistant principal are among the imminent cuts.
The Santa Barbara school board Tuesday night cut nearly $4.1 million from the district’s $93 million discretionary budget for the 2008-09 school year, eliminating the jobs of teachers, psychologists, special-education aides, elementary school health assistants and a junior high assistant principal.
Largely the result of the California budget debacle, the cuts also did away with a program that keeps ninth-grade math classes small.
The most contentious item Tuesday night involved the board’s decision to cut $320,000 from the staffing level at San Marcos High, which translates into about five full-time teaching positions.
The cut was made to begin the two-year process of bringing San Marcos’ staff-to-student ratios more in line with that of the district’s other two high schools. Class sizes at San Marcos are capped at 31, while at Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos high schools the cap is set at 35.
The cut on the San Marcos High item was less than final, however, because the school’s current staffing levels were codified last year in a multiyear teachers union contract. Even though the board made the reduction, top-level administrators and the teachers union still must re-negotiate the matter over the next few weeks.
The matter is especially heated because some teachers at San Marcos fear it could ultimately mean the end of their beloved block schedule, in which classes last 90 minutes instead of the traditional 55.
On Tuesday night, the board was able to spare two major areas that were slated for cuts: librarians and school psychologists. Initially, the board looked at replacing teacher-certified librarians with technicians, which would have saved $108,000, and terminating five of the district’s 18 psychologist positions, which would have saved $425,000.
Instead, the board opted to leave the librarians alone, and eliminate only two of the school psychologist positions – for now. (Cutting two psychologist jobs saved $170,000.) However, some or all of the spared librarian and psychologist positions still could be cut in the coming months if the teachers union and district administration ultimately decide to cut less than $320,000 from San Marcos.
The board also decided to spare the program that keeps ninth-grade English classes small. (Schools often try to keep ninth-grade class sizes small because it helps freshmen make the transition into a new high school setting.)
In at least one instance, however, the trustees disagreed on what it was they actually were cutting. The board voted 4-1 to save nearly $47,000 by staffing “all junior high schools at parity.” School board member Bob Noel voted no, said he believed the proposal meant cutting from La Cumbre Junior High to a back-to-the-basics curriculum known as “Core Knowledge,” which in Santa Barbara has found unique success among low-income students, many of whom do not speak fluent English.
“This is one of the most successful programs we’ve seen for disadvantaged minority students,” Noel said.
Board members Nancy Harter and Kate Parker said they didn’t think the cut would dismantle the program. Superintendent Brian Sarvis said he agreed, but when pressed by Noel for a guarantee, he couldn’t oblige.
Many of the cuts — at least $2 million’s worth — were noncontroversial, as they dealt with arcane issues such as retiree health benefits, insurance matters, workers compensation and retirement incentives.
Other cuts included:
• Reducing the hours of health assistants at elementary schools. ($40,715)
• Reducing the number of instructional assistants, especially in special education. ($433,874)
• Replacing four site-based resource-program specialists with clerks. ($298,530)
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» on 04.22.08 @ 10:22 PM
Wow what difficult decisions! The school board is the toughest job in elective politics; tough decisions at every turn, rare examples of triumph, and all for a trifle of remuneration. I’m constantly surprised that good people actually want to do it!
» on 04.22.08 @ 10:51 PM
What a sad statement about our schools and how we feel about our children.
» on 04.22.08 @ 11:53 PM
The District should stick to the K-12 education business, and get out of the free meal, free transporation, free rent, therapy business. There are many compeetent community groups providing these wonderful services. Trustees, stick to the basic, primary purpose of schools - provision of ability based instruction to and reference resources for (aka libraries) every student including including students with special needs—those who are deaf, blind, wheelchair bound, have cerebral palsy, are autistic, etc. Improve coordination with Tri-County Regional services, while providing critical special assistance need by some of these students to learn. AND DON’T FORGET: LIBRARIES & LIBRARIAN BENEFIT EVERY STUDENT. Libraries are essential at each school! Aren’t schools about instruction, learning and books? Go try to find a seat at any of the 3 high schools before and after school, and at lunch. Good luck, they’re full. Trustees should have adopted a policy to ensure continued employment of at least one FT credentialed librarian at each school. Period. The District employed psychologists were very clever in their presentations to the Board: each mentioned "lawsuit" in their presentation, the buzz word known to intimidate all but Trustee Noel.
» on 04.23.08 @ 12:12 AM
Even after a $4 million cut, is the budget larger or smaller than last year?
» on 04.23.08 @ 12:37 AM
Let’s talk priorities. Cutting a librarian and replacing with a clerk still leaves the library open and available. Cutting a psychologist closes the door to any student being bullied, being abused by parents, contemplating suicide or running away. The office door will be closed, and the student can’t get to other professional help.
» on 04.23.08 @ 12:46 AM
I am disturbed that our concern for students’ education has come down to how much we take away from them!! It is outrageous to think we are in a n environment that boasts fair learning and we can not give them that!
» on 04.23.08 @ 12:59 AM
Which Junior high assistant principal was cut? As this was mentioned in the lead in paragraph, it would have been nice to have that detail in the article.
» on 04.23.08 @ 01:18 AM
I am discouraged that every year we focus on what we are going to cut out of our services to students instead of focusing on how we can be creative and find funds to support ALL of our essential and beneficial programs. If our purpose is to provide the most effective education and social network possible to help our students succeed, we need a big paradigm shift. We live in one of the most affluent areas in the world. There’s no reason we should be arguing about whether psychologists or librarians are more important. We should be arguing about the best way to pay for BOTH of them.
» on 04.23.08 @ 01:28 AM
Public Education is still the cornerstone of privilege in our country. Since growing away from the small, school houses group learning model, much has evolved and changed for the better. With those changes came greater responsibilities and demands, such as providing free lunches, after school programs, programs for the disabled, etc… We as a community must and should be all working together to provide the very best education we can support. Simply relying on property taxes to cover all the costs of public education is never going to be adequate. Everyone is entitled to a free education, yet not everyone pays property tax, we need to pool our resources to help fill the gap. There are many avenues to help enhance our local schools. The Santa Barbara Education Foundation has and continues to do wonderful work in this area and I encourage all to learn how they can help in making our schools the very best they can be. Get Involved.
» on 04.23.08 @ 02:01 AM
In this town, where money is so abundant, isn’t it telling that we have such a struggle funding the one thing that contributes most to the quality of life here, the education of our children. It’s understandable that the cuts in state funding would be traumatic in most communities, but here it should be different.
» on 04.23.08 @ 02:20 AM
Kudos Rob on great reporting. The Board does a thankless job in trying to clean up the state’s mess. Eighth largest economy in the world, California is currently 46th in per pupil spending. Glad to see they kept the 20-1 9th grade English program; sad to see the math one go away. Many, many parents and teachers from DP rallied to save the 20-1 programs.
» on 04.23.08 @ 02:25 AM
I believe the core issue begins with the federal government - .42 of every tax dollar goes to the military while only .04 cents goes to education. This flows to the State and ultimately impacts local school districts and on to individual students and teachers. Maybe we should bring back the old bumper sticker that goes something like this - "What if we gave money to schools and the airforce had to have a bake sale for a bomber?"
» on 04.23.08 @ 02:43 AM
Here are two questions for someone to answer….1)Were many of the "cuts" or "savings" real? Or was it simply moving the expense from the unrestricted account to a restricted account there by insuring that those restricted programs will need to be revisited in the near future for further cuts? In the report it says "it may cause budget modifications to some restricted programs." How dramatic will these cuts be to programs? Secondly why weren’t block grants in 2006-2007 used for "instructional materials, classroom and laboratory materials…..educational technology,...expenditures to close the achievement gap…?? Why were they not used in 2006-2007 and now become funds to be used for deferred maintenance? The trade off seems unreal. Surely no one expected these block grants to be really used for deferred maintenance (eventhough an allowable use) when the demand for educational needs is so high!
» on 04.23.08 @ 02:45 AM
And from the distict offices, they cut ‘pre-printed letterhead stationary.’ which will now be printed from their computer printer - A savings of $5,000. Why not cut something more substantal like a staff member such as the PR person. Is it true the savings would be $80,000? Librarian, psychologist, teacher or PR person? Who shall be spared?
» on 04.23.08 @ 04:08 AM
"Beloved block scheduled" is an over statement even preference by "some teachers". There are "some teachers" that hate the block schedule. It is not fair to the students of this school district to favor San Marcos students with a better teacher/student ratio than students attending DPHS and SBHS.
» on 04.23.08 @ 04:10 AM
Yes, and Dr. Noel each year offers to reduce the pittance of a renumeration they do get. Why can’t Sarvis offer the same?
» on 04.23.08 @ 04:35 AM
I’m grateful for all the good will I see directed to public education. Specifically I hope that the district will maintain the block schedule at San Marcos. I think it is very important to have that schedule/learning alternative in our district. It is a learning environment that works so well for so many students. Also, I have heard of many communities asking for itemized "prices" for keeping certain service, for example how much per family at a given school to keep a librarian and library open one hour before and after school and at lunch? Could families at that school pay for that "item". I think people would be eager to help in this way because they know exactly where there dollars go. Thanks.
» on 04.23.08 @ 07:00 AM
Want an easy fix? Get Californians to agree to raise their tiny property tax 10 percent…all this increase in value of property over the years means nothing on properties that don’t change hands and thus do not pay more, fairer property taxes.
» on 04.24.08 @ 09:02 AM
The block schedule will be saved. But what the district is asking San Marcos to do is to save the psychologists and Libraians. Basically, if San Marcos agrees to raise their class size ( and basically rework the contract that the DISTRICT WANTED AND SIGNED) and to let go of 6 more teachers, then the librarians and psychologists are saved. If they don’t, the the librarians and psychologists are gone. The District, through their own fault, has put San Marcos in a no-win situation. That is sad.
» on 04.24.08 @ 12:45 PM
A good step to funding our schools and eliminating the state deficit would be to lift prop 13 from COMMERCIAL PROPERTY and second homes. It should remain untouched for primary residences. Richard Foster
» on 04.25.08 @ 02:52 AM
Wow, what an idea! "raise their tiny property tax 10 percent…", if that happened, then most home oweners would sell, pack up and leave Santa Barbara for good. We bought a $1 M "fixer upper" four years ago and pay 10,000 annually on property tax, I dontt think we could handle to have our tiny property tax raised, get real!
» on 04.25.08 @ 07:58 AM
I totally agree with the person who wrote the last comment. My husband and I pay over $1200 a month in property taxes already and the scary thing is that this is a family home with three bedrooms for a family of six. However the idea of raising the rate on second homes and commercial is perhaps a good idea. Secondly I do not understand why San Marcos should get more funding than the other two high schools in SB. That just seems wrong. Giving preference to one school and letting go of librarians and psychologists in others does not seem right. San Marcos is denying a request from the district to even out the monies and it is balking. That is elitism.
» on 04.26.08 @ 06:12 AM
San Marcos is balking? The district signed a contract with the San Marcos teachers and is now trying to change the deal. Also, the librarian the are proposing to cut is at San Marcos!
» on 04.26.08 @ 04:21 PM
San Marcos is not balking. They were mistakenly given the extra teachers BY THE DISTRICT, not requested by San Marcos. This was caused by fixing in the 31 and 35 students per class. Look at what happened to DP and SB last Sept. It took a whole month for the district to even out classes to meet the contract that they wanted! They cause the mistake, then when discovered it, told SM they had to raise their class sizes and lose more teachers or the district would cut out the psychologists and not replace retiring librarians. They two retiring librarians are at San Marcos and La Cumbre. When other retire, they won’t replace those. San Marcos teachers voted to increase their class size to save the librarians spaces now and in the future, and to save the psychologists. That means they voted to not give jobs back to some of their own. So to the person who said San Marcos is balking, that is wrong. San Marcos always had the same number of teachers as DP and SB until last year, when the contract was signed for a 3 year period, ending next year. The district wanted to raise class sizes, and thus lock in 31 for San Marcos, and 35 for DP and SB. Why 31? Because at San Marcos, all teachers teach 6 classes throughout the year, as compared to 5 for other schools. Plus they teach more kids throughout the year than the other two. (186 to 175) Now San Marcos teachers will teach 198 kids and 6 classes during the year compared to 175 kids and 5 classes for DP and San Marcos. Teachers at San Marcos want the same staffing as the other school, just like it has always been. They are just frustrated that they feel like they are being put in a no win situation by the district for something the district caused.
» on 04.26.08 @ 08:50 PM
As a parent of a child who relies on the help of the Special Education Department, I am disgusted by the lack of compassion the board has to make cuts in this area. They are so out of touch with reality. Ask a GATE parent how they would feel if that program was cut into. This program benefits the children that need extra help, just as the GATE program benefits the children who need to be more challenged with the school work.
» on 04.28.08 @ 01:37 AM
And people wonder why we homeschool! Student/teacher ratio: 2/1 Uniform: Shorts, T-shirts After school child care: Not needed Lunch: Home cooked Subject for today: Compare Santa Barbara property tax revenues & school budgets to other California districts. Of all the places in the world, Santa Barbara should have the best in K-12 education.
» on 04.28.08 @ 02:19 AM
Nothing could be more important than the education of our children. Our future depends on it. Imagine how much education you could “buy� with the amount we are expending in the military. Tell your government representatives that education should be their first priority. Many of the problems that we have in our society could alleviated through proper education. And cutting from special ed? Give me a break. Don’t those kids have a hard enough time as it is?
» on 04.28.08 @ 08:26 AM
How about getting rid of some of the assistant superintendents? I can just imagine what their salaries are! But no… let’s not touch their precious jobs, let’s hurt our precious children instead. Unbelievable!!
» on 04.28.08 @ 11:42 AM
Uhhh, I guess the last commenter hasn’t been paying attention. Asst. Superintendent Paul Turnbull’s position is not being filled when he leaves next month to go to Santa Ynez.
» on 04.28.08 @ 02:41 PM
Well that’s a start! Uhhh, and I have been paying attention, I even know he’s going to Santa Ynez.
» on 04.28.08 @ 10:31 PM
Don’t raise property taxes! Don’t let the teachers make you think it’s a lack of revenue that is causing the cuts. I am a teacher in the district and a union member. Revenue for schools has been raised DRAMATICALLY in the last 12 years. However, every time there is an increase in revenue the union demands it all in salaries under the old saw that "teachers are underpaid" (they never say in comparison to whom, it is just essential that the public buys this bill of goods). Once they secure the revenue increase in salaries, they start complaining that the district is too poor for supplies, or field trips, or instructional aides, or whatever. This cycle continues year after year. How teachers have managed to perpetuate this exalted and unassailable position is amazing and disturbing. I’m sure I’ll be met with the usual spurious arguments teachers about working prodigious hours and barely being able to make it in Santa Barbara. But come on, it’s your choice to live here. If you can’t afford it, go elsewhere; nobody owes you a living. Teachers are handsomely paid for working 182 out of a 365 day year (50.2% of the year) with 13 weeks vacation, paid holidays for every holiday including the ones other people don’t get like Veteran’s day, Martin Luther King day, and Lincoln’s Birthday, an amazingly generous pension that is guaranteed for life and indexed for inflation (you 401k contributors not only have to fund your own retirement, but you subsidize mine!) etc. etc. Don’t believe all the hype from teachers. They have become very well paid by using the system to make the public feel sorry them.
» on 04.29.08 @ 01:01 AM
Stunning, cutting education and healthcare, meanwhile spending 6.5 million sidewalking and bikepathing Summerland. Summerland! Our priorities are so screwed up it is mindboggling.
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