Administrators trimmed at Rowland Unified
Hard times require hard decisions. And Rowland Unified is attempting just that as it works to meet the expected $5.8 million deficit in the school budget mandated by the governor's budget proposals.
The district has been hard at work identifying areas that could be cut. Superintendent Maria Ott recently sent out this letter to parents in Rowland Unified.
"As background, I want you to know that as soon as the governor announced his plan to cut $4.5 billion from public education in California, we took immediate steps to address the problem by reducing spending in the current school year. Whenever possible, vacant positions have not been filled.
We have asked schools and offices to reduce all levels of expenditures that were non-essential. These actions have produced anticipated savings of $1.5 million to help with the $5.8 million problem for 2008-09," Ott wrote.
Personnel is a huge cost for the district and Rowland is considering reducing the number of certificated non-classroom positions. These will include a special education coordinator, three elementary vice principals, three high school vice principals and an intermediate vice principal. Administration savings are projected at $ 549,503.Other cutbacks suggested include a project specialist ($72,889), two nurses ($177,231), two school psychologists ($195,480) and an adaptive physical education position ($53,509).
This would result in a savings of $ 1 ,048,612.
Rowland Unified will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, May 6, to discuss the $5.8 million in potential reductions that need to be made for the 2008-09 school year because of the governor's budget. The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at Rincon Intermediate School, 2800 E. Hollingworth St., West Covina.
Information regarding the Governor's budget and its impact to Rowland Unified can be found on <a href="Rowland'>http://www.rowlandschools.org/">Rowland Unified </a>web site under Budget Update. There is also a place where the community can share their input by email to the superintendent and Budget Advisory Committee.
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