During the past two weeks, officials came up with possible ways to save $14 million, and on Tuesday, the district’s board of trustees will see a list of potential budget cuts at its meeting.
By March 30, the district has to nail down what it can give up for the 2010-11 school year that starts this August, as well as for the 2011-12 year after that.
Tuesday’s $14 million list should be a good indicator of the final reductions.
The district will cut $11 million for the next school year and $2.9 million more for the year after.
Suggested changes include shuttering Gifted and Talented Education classes, laying off special-education instructors, eliminating art programs and getting rid of buses for kindergartners who attend class in the afternoon.
After Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal earlier this month, the board learned that education bears a quarter of this year’s $19.9 billion state budget shortfall
Casey Goodall, associate superintendent of business, broke the news to the board at its Jan. 12 meeting.
He said after that meeting that he was unsure what more could be taken from the district’s 20 schools. Last year, the district approved a tentative list of $3.6 million in possible cuts for 2010-11 and $2.1 million for 2011-12.
The board will also hear from Hirsch and Central elementary schools’ site councils about the schools’ achievements and activities.
It will congratulate the winners of the district spelling bee, the Tracy High varsity football team that won the San Joaquin Athletic Association title in the fall and the outstanding employees for last year’s winter semester.
Contact Tracy Press reporter Cassie Tomlin at 830-4225 or ctomlin@tracypress.com. At a glance
WHAT: Tracy Unified School District board meeting
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: District office, 1875 W. Lowell Ave.
INFO: 830-3200
We all have limited resources and if publicly funded agencies realize their pool of money is no longer endless, then maybe present resources would go further and there wouldn't be a need to ask for more. However, once publicly funded agencies show they have done all they can and they still need funds, then we "average citizens" need to step up and invest in our children and their future.
Schools need more funds. Taxes providing funds. Taxes need to go up. Average citizens don't mind paying $65 each month for each of the following: lattes, cable and/or wireless phones; but try to raise their taxes and there will be a hooting and a hollerin'!
BY the way TUSD has a fund called "books and supplies" with 10 million dollars in it. Since my classroom budget last year was $100.00 that is obviously not for the classroom. I think they should cut that one first. They also have a 20% reserve for a rainy day- guess what it is raining!