$19M more in cuts for CVUSD
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
CHINO - After approving $27 million in cuts last year, the Chino Valley Unified school board is about to face another $19 million in cuts to its three-year budget.
Superintendent Wayne Joseph's proposed cuts, which will have to be approved by the school board, may result in about 65 full-time employees receiving layoff notices. The pink slips will mostly be sent to teachers.
"As you know, the board recently made budget reductions to the tune of $27 million and, at the time, we knew we might be back here because of different things going on with the state, and sure enough we're back again," Joseph said.
The cuts were announced Wednesday as part of Joseph's budget proposal at a budget study session.
Superintendent Wayne Joseph's proposed cuts, which will have to be approved by the school board, may result in about 65 full-time employees receiving layoff notices. The pink slips will mostly be sent to teachers.
"As you know, the board recently made budget reductions to the tune of $27 million and, at the time, we knew we might be back here because of different things going on with the state, and sure enough we're back again," Joseph said.
The cuts were announced Wednesday as part of Joseph's budget proposal at a budget study session.
The recommendations "are not things we want to cut," he said. "But we're in a situation where we have to cut ... And we're in a situation where we have to do things that before we would have never considered in times of plenty."
Additional cuts include:
Don Lugo High principal Preston Carr said he was concerned about the possible loss of the AVID program.
"I think right away, we need to start having some discussions, some thinking out loud and find solutions because we definitely have some major challenges in front of us," Carr said.
"At Don Lugo, I have 98 students coming into the program next year and that program is growing, so that's a real concern to me."
Joseph's reduction list, which is available on the district Web site, does not include about $8 million in cuts that have not been released publicly.
District officials said jobs could be saved if concessions are made by labor unions, including the implementation of five furlough days for teachers, or a 2.8 percent pay cut. That concession could save about $6.8 million over two years, officials said.
Negotiable items also include class size increases in fourth through twelfth grades.
In the past year, economies from employee layoffs, furloughs and salary cuts have resulted in about $12 million in savings, district boardmember Michael Calta said.
Calta said he expects the board will vote on the budget reductions at Thursday's board meeting.
Preliminary layoff notices have to be sent out to teachers by March 15, according to state law.
The possible cuts come at a time when the district is dealing with negative budget impacts from being placed in Program Improvement status this year, the opening of a new area charter school next fall at a projected loss of students and about $1.5 million per year to the district, and a potential $8 million state penalty for missing instructional time at two elementary schools last year.
The losses have been factored into district budget calculations this year, officials said. District officials hope the opening of a new virtual online high school next fall will address the loss of students and attendance funding.
Additional cuts include:
- Funding for visual and performing arts.
- Eliminating 12 elementary music teachers.
- Eliminating home-to-school transportation for students.
- Replacing three librarians with library techs.
- Increasing K-3 class size ratio from 25 students-per-teacher to 30-to-1.
- Eliminating the International Baccalaureate program, which places rigorous academic standards and encourages students to attend college.
- Eliminating AVID (Advancement via individual determination), a college-preparatory program.
Don Lugo High principal Preston Carr said he was concerned about the possible loss of the AVID program.
"I think right away, we need to start having some discussions, some thinking out loud and find solutions because we definitely have some major challenges in front of us," Carr said.
"At Don Lugo, I have 98 students coming into the program next year and that program is growing, so that's a real concern to me."
Joseph's reduction list, which is available on the district Web site, does not include about $8 million in cuts that have not been released publicly.
District officials said jobs could be saved if concessions are made by labor unions, including the implementation of five furlough days for teachers, or a 2.8 percent pay cut. That concession could save about $6.8 million over two years, officials said.
Negotiable items also include class size increases in fourth through twelfth grades.
In the past year, economies from employee layoffs, furloughs and salary cuts have resulted in about $12 million in savings, district boardmember Michael Calta said.
Calta said he expects the board will vote on the budget reductions at Thursday's board meeting.
Preliminary layoff notices have to be sent out to teachers by March 15, according to state law.
The possible cuts come at a time when the district is dealing with negative budget impacts from being placed in Program Improvement status this year, the opening of a new area charter school next fall at a projected loss of students and about $1.5 million per year to the district, and a potential $8 million state penalty for missing instructional time at two elementary schools last year.
The losses have been factored into district budget calculations this year, officials said. District officials hope the opening of a new virtual online high school next fall will address the loss of students and attendance funding.
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