Ojai Unified To Keep Schools Open

Budget picture brightens by the tune of $400,000 in revised number

By Sondra Murphy
Tuesday’s meeting of the Ojai Unified School District board of directors had a few more cheerful highlights than other recent assemblies.
The board officially withdrew any possibility of school closures based on the revised state budget proposal received from Gov. Schwarzenegger on May 14, which increased OUSD’s expected funds by $400,000 compared to January’s proposal. OUSD has about a $25 million yearly budget that the board must cut $1.4 million from by the time they officially approve next school year’s budget at the end of June. It was estimated that a large school closure would save the district $300,000.
Superintendent Tim Baird presented an overview of a School Services of California budget workshop that district staff attended to reassess the impact state economic woes will have on schools. In an effort to increase California’s cash flow, Schwarzenegger is proposing a plan to borrow against lottery revenues to keep the state budget viable. Eliminated from state budget projections are plans to suspend Proposition 98, which guarantees school funding.
“This is not a good budget,” Baird said. “If we would have seen this budget in January, we would have been screaming.” He did acknowledge, however, that the updated state proposal is an improvement over January’s numbers.
“Instead of taking money from education, they’re giving $5 billion to education from the lottery,” said Baird. This plan will require approval from two-thirds of the legislature for November ballot placement and has a built-in safety net for temporarily raising income taxes by one cent if revenue increases from the lottery do not meet expectations.
“This lottery proposal is not being greeted enthusiastically by state legislators, so this budget does not have the validity that the May revise normally has,” said Baird. He said the Ventura County Office of Education and School Services of California are recommending that districts conservatively plan for the May revision funding numbers but develop options and backup plans.
Baird said that revised educational allotment is still not great news for schools. The proposed budget still contains large reductions in school categorical funds that will result in loss of OUSD student programs and school staff. The losses so far are expected to impact transportation, nutrition services and elementary physical education, as well as carve away hours from library, computer lab and secretarial personnel and eliminate some certificated and classified positions completely, including five bus drivers. As of last meeting, 17 teachers were still on layoff notice due to the added problem of declining enrollment.
During his presentation, Baird said the budget does not provide adequate funding consistent with expectations for student performance and it will likely cause California to slip farther down in educational funding. Currently at 46th, there is a real possibility that our state could descend to last place on the list if our economy continues its downward spiral and public education remains a low priority.
“Special education is the one area we’re not seeing the reductions we were expecting,” said Baird. But because cost of living adjustments are not included, he added, “It’s really a net loss, but not as big a hit as we were told in January.”
Baird also expected the usual political delay in state budget approval would continue squeezing the district’s resources. “We could see this budget going into September or October before it is approved and, of course, we have to have a budget by June 30 and start school in August.” Like most other school districts, OUSD must take out a loan each summer to cover expenses while waiting for state legislators to finish haggling. “It’s going to be a long, hot summer,” Baird said.
After months of tough choices, the board enthusiastically greeted the removal of school closure from the list of recommended budget reduction items. “I think everybody’s voice was heard loud and clear about the importance of education because there was such an outcry –– from our community and communities across the state –– that has gotten us to where we are,” said Steve Fields, board president.
“But we were able to take school closures off the table because we left a lot of things on the table that will affect our kids,” stated member Rikki Horne.
Ojai Education Foundation president Mike Caldwell updated the board about the Save Ojai Schools campaign. “To date, we have netted $57,307.07,” said Caldwell. He added that several more benefit events are planned to pump up the numbers. Primarily intended to help avoid school closures, SOS campaign funds are also earmarked to help maintain low class sizes throughout the district.
“We are still actively working on this budget problem because the problem still exists,” Baird said. “This does not mean we can go out and have a spending spree. We have to be cautious. We know next year’s budget is just as bad as this year’s.”
District administrators will submit a second preliminary budget at next week’s board meeting. “At that time, we will have all reductions and revenue enhancements to bring to you,” said Baird. “This was really a new state budget, which is very different from what we’ve seen since I’ve been doing this.”
He said that OUSD is still determining how to best use district site development plans to avoid yearly crises in the education budget and that a parcel tax option is still being considered. “I don’t believe (state legislators) will come after us for more, but they have an impossible problem to solve,” said Baird. “I don’t like leaps of faith when dealing with money.”
With school closure off the hit list, board meeting attendance was down considerably and speakers addressed the decisions by the board thus far. “I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your really hard work and good, sound decisions during a difficult time,” San Antonio principal Theresa Dutter told the board. “You and our community members, who have worked tirelessly, are very reflective of our incredible community.”
Dutter also requested that people continue to contact elected officials about how yearly budget problems perpetually “put our children at risk.”
“I know there are cuts that must be made,” said Ojai Federation of Teachers President Martha Ditchfield. “I know there must be give and more give and ‘fair’ and ‘equitable’ means something different to everyone … I just ask the board to look carefully at all the options and remain vigilant as you look at all the details of the budget.”
The next board meeting will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the district office boardroom, 414 E. Ojai Ave.