Red Words

Here's a nod to David James Heiss of the Redlands Daily Facts for covering the Redlands Unified School District's board meeting on Tuesday night.

This blogger spent Tuesday night covering a gay marriage debate at University of Redlands that avoided controversy on the touchy topic since neither of the speakers actually opposed legal recognition for same-sex couples. The debate was little more than a friendly argument on whether the government should use the word "marriage" or phrases like "civil union" and "domestic partnership" to describe same-sex couples.

I'm expecting my story on the debate to appear in Thursday's issue of The Sun. In the meantime, here's The Fact's rundown of the school board meeting.

School district avoids layoffs
David James Heiss, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 03/12/2008 02:08:20 PM PDT

The Redlands Unified School District anticipates having a balanced budget through the next couple of years, despite a $16 billion state budget shortfall that will reduce district revenues.
Vince Christakos, assistant superintendent of business services, explained at Tuesday evening's school board meeting how the district can expect to meet budget demands without layoffs.

Christakos presented the district's second interim financial report during the meeting.

Multi-year assumptions for the district include a 4.94 percent cost of living adjustment for next year, and a cost of living adjustment reduction to 3 percent for 2009-10; a flat 6.99 percent deficit; no growth; 3 percent annual rise in utility expenses; half of Citrus Valley High School's start-up costs next year and start-up costs for Citrus Valley in 2009-10; and anticipated additional budget reductions in 2009-10.

The district expects an $8.9 million deficit for this year and an additional $5.5 million loss next year.

Due to higher interest rates on cash reserves and higher rents from district-owned citrus groves near Redlands East Valley High School, and an unexpected rise by 75 in the average daily attendance for this fiscal year, revenues increased.

Revenues for the first interim of 2007-08 were $166,862,309; and for the second interim they were $169,600,882.

Expenditures for the first interim were $175,787,417; and for the second interim expenditures were $175,069,513.

Ending balances were $11,624,428 and $15,080,904, respectively, with beginning balances of $20,549,535 and $20,549,535.

During closed session, the school board approved eliminating general fund contributions for three elementary school assistant principals, effective in June.

The three people, identified only by employee numbers, will be offered teaching positions or other administrative positions, or their respective schools may use categorical funding to maintain their salaries.

Superintendent Lori Rhodes itemized a budget reduction plan for 2008-09, which included a hiring freeze that will save the district $1.1 million, and consolidating campus kitchens to reduce encroachment and combining them into a newly opened central kitchen, which would save $1,450,000 annually.

The district would also eliminate roving teachers-on-assignment and keep them permanently in singular classrooms, while leaving seven classified positions, two counselor positions and two high school support teaching positions vacant, which would save an additional $800,000.

By reducing administrative and clerical staff through attrition and increasing bus and field trip rates, and relying on state and music art funds to support arts programs, the district could save an additional $1,377,000.

Her cuts included the elimination of maintaining the three assistant principal positions using general funds.

Rhodes expressed regret in having to make program cuts, but told the board, "I believe our criteria to determine which items we put on this list keeps cuts as far away from the classrooms as possible.

She also said the district promised to "continue to maintain accessibility of our programs for our students. We were cognizant of the effects layoffs would have," and assured "RUSD will not be issuing layoff notices" this year, because the human resources department has closely monitored retirements and attrition.

Board member Ron McPeck said, "The district must operate within the parameters the state gives us, and so we get to do the dirty work our state legislatures don't want to do," despite his observations that the Legislature has the capacity to raise funds while the district does not.

In other action, the district adopted a resolution to grant an easement and substructure conveyance to Verizon California Inc. at Citrus Valley High School.

The district also announced the hiring of Scott Bohlender, assistant superintendent of educational services for Rim of the World Unified, as Redlands' next assistant superintendent of educational services, which was the position Rhodes held for several years before being promoted to superintendent at the beginning of February.

E-mail Staff Writer David James Heiss at dheiss@redlandsdailyfacts.com