Schools breathe easier Schools breathe easier (May 21, 2004)

Local districts say they can live with budget deal

By Julie O'Shea

With budget deadlines for the 2004-2005 school year just a little more than a month away, district administrators are breathing huge sighs of relief, saying it looks like Sacramento won't be sucking them dry.

And there is more good news for the Mountain View-Whisman School District, where officials have an extra $1.6 million to work with next year. The money is coming from Measure J funds, approved by voters in March. Administrators laid down recommendations for $1.2 million, but the school board must decide how it wants to spend the rest of the money.

Nevertheless, Superintendent Jim Negri told the school board last week that the district will need to consider the possibility of closing one of its nine campuses in the 2005-2006 school year in order to turn in a balanced budget to the county education office.

Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's revisions to the state budget, announced last week, will mean about $25 more per student at Mountain View-Whisman, while the high schools will save about $190,000, finance chiefs for both districts said.

However, school officials admitted they have minor concerns, although nothing is final until the state Legislature gives its approval. Additionally, Schwarzenegger's propsed plan will take $2 billion from the schools' Proposition 98 funding source, but educators said they aren't too worried about it.

Negri said he is concerned about funding for categorical programs, like school improvement plans. And Mountain View-Los Altos high schools finance director Joe White said there are still questions surrounding money for maintenance costs.

Schwarzenegger's May Revise "was a global discussion of the stuff. It wasn't specific to us," White said. "I don't know the total impact to us."

Still, school districts must push forward with the information they have to piece together a budget for next year. The deadline is June 30.

White said he is "much more confident" this year than last year and anticipates the 2004-2005 operating budget will be around $34 million.

Negri, during a special school board study session last week, outlined recommendations for next year's extra parcel tax funds. These recommendations must be approved by the school board.

Negri said winning Measure J meant that the district wouldn't have to close a school next year, but it didn't guarantee that one wouldn't have to close in the future.

District administrators are recommending that the school board set aside $160,000 for its reserve fund. State school districts are required by law to set aside 3 percent of their budget for emergencies.

Ideas for the remaining $387,000 that is yet undesignated include $100,000 for elementary physical education, $86,000 for the Silicon Valley New Teacher Project, $30,000 for music at the middle schools, $100,000 for English learner support at the middle schools and $100,000 for tech support.

"These are really things that need to be decided and discussed," Negri said. "We are out of balance if we try and do everything. We can't do everything."

Proposed Expenditures for Measure J Funds

Counseling $46,000
Music and Art $95,000
Clerical Services $90,000
Custodial Services $179,000
Science Kits $10,000
After-School Sports $15,000
Legal Costs $50,000
Reserve Fund $160,000
Keep All Campuses Open for 2004-05 $350,000
Library Secretaries $218,000
Undesignated $387,000

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

E-mail a friend a link to this story.