Class sizes will increase

Local school districts unanimously voted this week to increase class sizes and issue layoff notices in the face of an escalating budget crisis.

After voting to issue notices for 42.5 full-time teaching and staff positions, the Huntington Beach City School District earmarked $2 million in cuts in a priority list of future budget reductions.

Ocean View approved giving notice to 72 temporary teachers Tuesday night, but Supt. Alan Rasmussen said the notices, which are required by law, are just like the ones the district hands out every year in May; typically, the teachers are rehired.

“Everything that took place last night was a precautionary action, and made in light of the March 15 timeline,” Rasmussen said.

The district’s mantra is now “Not Business As Usual.” It also will increase class sizes from about 20 to 24 students, and has frozen new hiring and non-essential expenditures.

Like the Huntington Beach Union High School District, the City District, which serves primary and intermediate schools, used reserves and other existing sources to pay for cuts to this school year’s budget by the state.

“We had put away enough over the last three years to be OK this year,” Huntington Beach Union Supt. Van Riley said. “But now millions in savings are gone. That really hurts.”

Ocean View School District used about $1 million in carry-over from last year to help balance this year’s budget, but made about $2 million in staffing and program cuts.

On the horizon

The districts are now trying to grapple with what to cut for the upcoming school year, after orders from the state have taken additional millions out of each of their annual budgets.

“When you realize that 87% of our budget goes to personnel salaries and benefits, you can see where our problem lies,” Rasmussen said.

The district convened advisory and fiscal planning teams of community members, school administrators and district staff to determine the top candidates for cuts.

All of the districts sought first to find revenue enhancement opportunities, which came from conservative budgeting techniques, lease funds and fee-based programs.

Huntington Beach City board members voted Tuesday night to use all of their flexible 2007/08 categorical fund balances to meet next year’s budget, despite board member Celia Jaffe’s cautionary views.

By comparison, Ocean View plans to save its swept categorical funds as a reserve, in case it needs to make additional cuts in the future.

“Back-filling with one-time money just postpones the inevitable,” Rasmussen said. “Let’s get it all done right now, and make all the hard decisions.”

Other top options in Huntington Beach City’s list of future considerations include increasing class sizes for first and second grades to 24 students, reducing the superintendent’s and board’s budgets; cutting consultant use; reducing conference attendance; and eliminating a non-required Hepatitis B clinic.

Ocean View’s future plans

Rasmussen plans to wait to make many final decisions until he receives details on the federal stimulus package, as well as possible changes to the current budget and three propositions that will be on the May 19 ballot that are tied to revenue.

He also is concerned that the numbers used in the state budget were based on late 2008 levels; since then, the stock market has dipped even more, while unemployment has increased.

“What I shared with the board is that this is the beginning, not the end,” Rasmussen said.

Task forces comprised of school, district and community leaders are figuring out which budget reduction opportunities save the most dollars but have the smallest effect on staff and students.

Rasmussen said, however, he plans to move forward shortly on plans to increase class sizes to 24 students. “Although the negative side is that we’re raising class size, the opportunity is that we’ll open up a room or two for all-day kindergartens,” Rasmussen said. “While we lose in one, we may gain in another; we’re hoping teachers we lose may be able to pick up kindergarten classrooms.”

The district expects to only offer summer school programs to special education and English language learners, but in recompense will offer extended after-school intervention to work with those who fall behind during the year.

“If and when things change, then we will reinstate and get back to the programs we had, because this district’s been quite successful academically,” Rasmussen said.

Fountain Valley looks long-term

“We’ve already laid off in Fountain Valley both classified and certified staff,” said Fountain Valley Supt. Marc Ecker. The district has served notice to more than 30 teachers and half of its night custodial staff, and frozen travel and workshop funding for teachers and administrators. An assistant superintendent position remains unfilled.

“This budget is not good news for schools,” Ecker said. “Although the budget itself allows local schools a limited amount of flexibility, in general we’re going to lose in excess of $400 per student. In most cases, that means reduced services for kids.

“I try to think long-term in the short-term,” Ecker said. “It took us a generation to get us in this situation. We’ve stopped investing in the future. People don’t suddenly get healthy from being unhealthy in one day. It’s the same for healthy governance. The founding fathers would be rolling over in their graves.”