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Santa Barbara School District Facing At Least Another $6 Million in Cuts
Eric Smith sat at his desk punching numbers into an adding machine until it printed out a final number — about $4 million.
That figure, equaling the cuts made by the Santa Barbara School District in 2007-08, was a symbol of things to come. About $4.4 million was cut last year, and $3.4 million was cut earlier this year in one-time reductions.
By the end of February, the district must cut $6 million from its 2010-11 budget, and it’s likely to face more reductions after the May revision of California’s budget, said Smith, the district’s deputy superintendent for business and noninstructional operations.
It’s a lot of numbers, but they add up to one thing: inescapable cuts to personnel.
While he can’t go into the reduction plan until it’s publicized Feb. 5 before the Board of Education meeting, Smith said there are plans to reduce administrative personnel in the district office and on the school site level. There also will be cuts to the facilities and maintenance staff.
He said there are plans for nonpersonnel reductions in operating costs — including finding new revenues, cutting inefficiencies and locating cost savings — but more than 80 percent of costs come from employees, so it’s difficult.
The lion’s share of the operating deficit will be in the secondary district, Smith said.
“We want to pursue cuts that have the least impact on classroom instruction, to the best of our ability,” District Superintendent Brian Sarvis said.
So far, district officials have been able to keep most of the cuts away from the classroom, except for increasing K-3 class sizes to a 25-to-1 ratio this year from 20-to-1.
“Teachers do what they’re so very good at — they adjust,” Sarvis said. “Thank God for good teachers.”
He said he doesn’t anticipate any major changes to class sizes with this round of cuts, and no major programs are on the chopping block. In addition, there are no midyear cuts this year (which would be about now), but the district expects the state budget crisis to affect it for at least the next five years.
Its mandated 3 percent reserves have helped weather the storms so far and provided a small cushion against new cuts, which come often.
Each January, districts get the anticipated budget from the governor’s office and have to create a budget around projections. Revisions to the state budget come in May — often with bad news — and the “real squabbling” is in June at the state level, Sarvis said.
The district’s budget is due at the end of June.
Some effects from the last round of cuts are being felt this year and will continue into next year, including the aforementioned increase in class sizes.
Interdistrict transfers are no longer allowed, but sixth- and 12th-graders and their siblings were allowed to stay for this year only, Sarvis said. Varsity athletes are allowed to stay at their schools as well, so they don’t lose their eligibility.
Intradistrict transfers — from school to school within the district — have not been affected.
The transition to basic-aid funding is another incentive to not allowing transfers.
The secondary district is likely to become basic aid — like every other district on the South Coast, including the elementary district — but seems to be on the cusp of it, Smith said.
Basic-aid districts receive funding based on property tax values, as long as that figure comes out to more than what the state is expected to give. There is a large revenue limit district deficit, so it’s likely the district will become basic aid even though local property tax values haven’t increased in recent years as they have historically. Until a few years ago, the elementary district’s property tax values rose about 7 percent per year, Smith said.
As to what will come for midyear cuts or the 2011-12 year, it’s anyone’s guess.
“It won’t be the end of it,” Sarvis said.
— Noozhawk staff writer Giana Magnoli can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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» on 01.29.10 @ 08:56 AM
As so much of California the special interests pushed and pulled education into directions they “felt” were important instead of concentrating on basics of education. “We need ~magnet~ schools.” As the district drowns in red ink. “We need ~culturally correct~ additional instruction.” As the district foundation cracks under the pressure of additional classes forced on it. The list is unfortunately long and not distinguished.
It is the terrible legacy the 1960’s-‘70’s where you are a “square” to use what works (read that as block head). Students have little concept of our governance because “History of Western Civilization” was “insensitive.” Forget it is the foundation of small government representative democracy. (notice the small “d”)
Cuts? Yep there will be more. Larger classes? Sure, that is what you get when you gut local funding and have the State collect education funds. Before all this California was rated Number One (#1) in education, while bending under the pressure of large classes and an exploding population. Guess “Political Correctness” isn’t so Cool (or is that Kool? I cannot spell).
Don’t forget Tune in Turn-On and Drop Out Hippies are to blame for most of this. Oh, and don’t trust anyone over 30.
» on 01.29.10 @ 10:41 AM
As so much of California the special interests pushed and pulled education into directions they “felt” were important instead of concentrating on basics of education. “We need ~magnet~ schools.” As the district drowns in red ink. “We need ~culturally correct~ additional instruction.” As the district foundation cracks under the pressure of additional classes forced on it. The list is unfortunately long and not distinguished.
It is the terrible legacy the 1960’s-‘70’s where you are a “square” to use what works (read that as block head). Students have little concept of our governance because “History of Western Civilization” was “insensitive.” Forget it is the foundation of small government representative democracy. (notice the small “d”)
Cuts? Yep there will be more. Larger classes? Sure, that is what you get when you gut local funding and have the State collect education funds. Before all this California was rated Number One (#1) in education, while bending under the pressure of large classes and an exploding population. Guess “Political Correctness” isn’t so Cool (or is that Kool? I cannot spell).
Don’t forget Tune in Turn-On and Drop Out Hippies are to blame for most of this. Oh, and don’t trust anyone over 30.
» on 01.29.10 @ 11:51 AM
Native Barbarian whatever you’re smoking I want some..this is a thread keep to the point of the article..bottom line is CA needs to stimulate/create a robust economy and save some money, while their at it, restructure property tax revs and trim down the state govt….Give local school districts the abiltiy to collect from their attendance areas.
» on 01.30.10 @ 07:01 AM
80% of the budget is labor, so we have to cut salaries, benefits and pensions. The teacher unions won’t like this, too bad. Teachers should be fired if they strike - there are plenty of people who want the jobs. Further we need to repeal decades of regulation and let the districts figure out what is best - and I’m sorry, that means that students whose special needs drive their costs to 300% of everyone else’s are going to have to lose. For those of you who want to gut Prop 13 - a) it’s not the problem, property tax revenues are way up since it was passed b) its not going to happen no matter how much you wish for it, thankfully and c) quit wasting our time rehashing that loser of an issue. Further, we’d do well to not educate non-citizens, and send them and their families back to their country of origin. College students are going to have to pay the full cost of their education - we can’t afford to subsidize it any more, and I include junior colleges. That of course will drive cost cutting at colleges. Many jobs and many programs there add no educational value - like affirmative action, sex, race and gender programs, etc. Get rid of them.
» on 01.30.10 @ 02:44 PM
This city needs to cut 50% of the staff like Santa Maria-ventura—overpaid and over staffed government—at its worst…Send the illegl aliens home..arrest and deport the parents who break our laws—This is for our American kids..
» on 01.30.10 @ 03:56 PM
Require a full and accurate accounting of the salaries, perks, per diems and other moneys and generous benefits that the top administrators, their outside “consultants” and the district’s lawyers (who have to litigate their mistakes) receive per year—and I’ll bet the deficits can be covered right there. These highly paid bureaucrats do little but perpetuate the inefficiencies and status quo, and do so little to educate children. Yet they get to keep their positions year after year, one school in program improvement after another.
» on 01.30.10 @ 07:54 PM
As a local educator, let me say I am not crying for my job, I agree with performance evaluations and if I’m not doing my job, get rid of me. But make sure I am replaced by a competent replacement - not just a less expensive person on the salary scale in order to save money.
But I have a serious question: If the district really wants to save money - Why does this not happen at the district level?
I cannot remember the last time a person at the district (one of the ten or so that make $100,000-200,000) was ever let go. All we have seen in the last 10 years is more positions created that makes the district top heavy.
In the last few years, proposals were made to cut positions both at the district and at school sites. The district chose to RIF (Reduction in Force) only teachers (except for a few district office staff).
Then we hired an additional administrator (at the top) Eric Smith - who is definitely good at his job.
However, he is making slightly under $200,000 and was given money to help buy a house with 3% “loan”.
And we have Robin Sawaske (Asst. Superintendent) who is competent in her job, but also makes a lot of money.
Perspective: The highest teacher step on the salary scale is just over $70,000, after 25 years of service.
Question - Do we need Brian Sarvis?
He makes at or above $200,000 per year - then add benefits and the fact that he has been in his job for long enough that the district will be required to pay him lifetime medical benefits (after about 8 years of service - teachers do not receive lifetime medical even if you work 30 years or more!!) Plus he will receive retirement pay - which could be near what he currently makes per year).
Just want to give you a little more perspective.
We could also look at the other administrators that the district does not need. Maybe later.
The district has some touch decisions ahead of them when it comes to budget cuts. Let’s make sure they look close to home. I know Mr. Smith said they would look at making district cuts but how about WE START THERE, make actual cuts - NOT JUST CONSIDER THEM and then move on to items that affect the classrooms and ultimately, the children.
» on 01.31.10 @ 06:11 AM
Two items teacher - Until you get rid of the regulations from Sacramento that require those high priced administrators in the first place, we’re going to need someone to do the work, OR the district breaks the law, which might be a good thing actually now that I think about it. I would certainly suggest we break the law regarding English language learners and special education. Second, there are many more teachers than administrators. I’m certainly in favor of cutting administrators pay, but quantity has a quality of its own, so some cuts for teachers are inevitable, especially with regards to pensions, which are completely out of line with the private sector.
» on 01.31.10 @ 10:20 PM
Thats will solve your staffing problem—god forbid they obet our laws-as we would in their country???
» on 02.01.10 @ 08:58 AM
RVK, exactly what laws would you suggest violating in regard to special education? The violation of state and federal laws by this local district is one of the reasons it’s in such financial trouble, and why our children are not well-served by the administrators running the show. Ever heard of the FCMAT report, a scathing document that is a huge indictment of this district and its total disregard for law—not to mention common decency. Read it on the school district’s website, then reconsider your recommendation.
» on 02.01.10 @ 01:49 PM
I’d privatize the whole system is what I’d suggest. As to common decency, how is it decent to tax one person to pay for another’s children’s education? It’s common all right, but indecent nonetheless.
» on 02.01.10 @ 09:24 PM
The size and waste in Gov is just rediculous..
» on 02.03.10 @ 02:30 PM
Everytime we face cuts people scream about fat at the top. Guess what? That is a baseless argument. We already have one of the leanest administrations around, and we have seen them cut positions. Go on the website and look at their org. chart. Each one on it is carrying a very large load. Instead of negativity, why not drop them a note to say thank you? If we lose any more of them, many services to school sites will be lost. The sites have their hands over-full each day. We need the our entire system to be well equipped and funded to give our public schools a chance to succeed. It’s just not OK to throw darts when there’s a disaster. Think of how you can help the local schools during this economy, don’t undermine them with nasty, self-serving comments. That helps no one.
» on 02.03.10 @ 08:28 PM
The District does NOT pay for a teacher’s pension nor does it make contributions!
» on 02.04.10 @ 08:21 AM
RKV - great post. Daniel Petry
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