Dec 3, 2009
Board Affirms Commitment to School Reform, Rejects Further Teacher Layoffs
The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education ratified a $186.8 million operating budget for 2009-2010 that includes $12.6 million in cuts to balance the 2008-09 budget, and reflects a $20 million loss of revenue from the State of California for 2009-10.
The Board voted to increase staffing ratios for K-3 and ninth grade English classes to 25 students per teacher, but use one-time federal stimulus funds to delay class size increases for a year. The decision to avoid laying off an additional 47 teachers gives the Board and the PUSD community an opportunity to aggressively pursue consistent and stable sources of funding.
“It is an understatement to say that these cuts are devastating to our schools and our classrooms,” said Board President Tom Selinkse. “But it can go no further. We are committed to accelerating student achievement in PUSD and that means protecting our reforms.”
The 2009-10 budget is based on information from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s May revision, although information from Sacramento continues to be fluid. Earlier this spring, PUSD issued layoff notices to 49 teachers and counselors.
“We’ve been making continuous reductions for the last two years as the State’s fiscal health has declined. We’ve made strategic, thoughtful reductions that have minimized the impact on classrooms. We’ve taken great care not to issue more layoff notices than we think we’ll need,” said Superintendent Edwin Diaz. “But tonight, we have less revenue from the State than anyone could have imagined. Now we must rally and take creative and aggressive action so that our children and our schools get the funding they deserve.”
Using the $20 million in federal stimulus money for 2009-10 means that PUSD faces $20 million in reductions for 2010-11 and beyond. A Budget Advisory Committee, representing a cross-section of PUSD employees, parents and community members, has developed a preliminary list of options for budget reductions in future years. Areas for discussion will include school consolidation, renegotiating union agreements, managing assets to produce revenue, imposing new fees, and proposing a parcel tax.
The Board and the District staff will hold discussions this summer and fall.
