The school board is expecting a large crowd Tuesday night as
they consider how to slough off another $3.7 million from the
district budget.
The school board is expecting a large crowd Tuesday night as they consider how to slough off another $3.7 million from the district budget.
Morgan Hill Unified School District board members made $2 million in cuts to its general fund at the beginning of the school year and reduced costs by another $2.6 million by mid-year. Included in these reductions was $500,000 set aside to lessen the blow for the 2009-10 school year’s cuts. Now, trustees will consider recommendations by the budget committee to cut back an additional $3.7 million.
If the recommendations are approved, the school district will use $650,000 of its reserves, cut routine repairs and maintenance by $500,000 and consolidate two schools – most likely P.A. Walsh and Burnett elementary schools – to save $400,000.
Increasing class size in kindergarten would save an additional $160,000 and would increase classes from 20 to 30 students.
The district has already laid off 15 employees. More layoffs – of secretaries, custodians, librarians and staff in the district office – are to come, based on earmarked savings in those areas that total $628,000, according to the staff report.
According to the same report, special education will see restructured services that would save the district $252,000. Walk-on coaching stipends would be reduced by $7,000.
All these changes still leave the district with a $603,000 shortfall, which could be mostly remedied with two furlough days for all employees, which saves $260,000 per day, according to the report.
Any furlough would have to be negotiated through the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers and two other unions, according to district staff.
Regular board meeting
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Britton Middle School auditorium, 80 W. Central Ave.
What: Considering budget cuts
Details: 201-6100
