Committee begins work leading to budget recommendation for Pomona Unified leadership

The 25-member Superintendent's Budget Advisory Committee met for the first time this week, the Pomona Unified School District announced in a statement.

The district's Board of Education voted to create the committee this summer.

Committee members will have the job of becoming familiar with the district's budget and expected state budget cuts. Committee members will then make recommendations to interim Superintendent Richard Martinez on educational programs and their priority levels as a budget for the coming academic year is developed.

"The school board and I deeply appreciate the fact that these people would volunteer their time and energy to help us make these difficult budget decisions," Martinez said in the statement.

"After having to make reductions of about $40 million over the past two years, we're now looking at a cut just for (the) 2010-2011 (academic year) of about $36 million. We can't do this alone. Our entire community has to have a say in these choices," he said.

The committee includes teachers, classified employees, students, parents, principals and community members, the statement said.

Committee members are expected to meet again at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 10 at district Education Center, 800 S. Garey Ave.