The kitchen staff at Sobrato High School who prepare the meals
for eight elementary schools and two middle schools in the Morgan
Hill Unified School District could officially see their paychecks
reduced tonight. District staff is presenting a resolution to the
seven-member school board to reduce classified service by the
equivalent of three full-time positions. Tuesday’s 6 p.m. meeting
is the only one for the school board in July.
The kitchen staff at Sobrato High School who prepare the meals for eight elementary schools and two middle schools in the Morgan Hill Unified School District could officially see their paychecks reduced tonight.
District staff is presenting a resolution to the seven-member school board to reduce classified service by the equivalent of three full-time positions. Tuesday’s 6 p.m. meeting is the only one for the school board in July.
The reductions up for elimination have been discussed at previous meetings during budget hearings before the board, but tonight the board will likely pass a resolution that eliminates two positions – an executive secretary in the district office and a senior clerk at the Community Adult School – and a cut of eight hours in the food service department.
Since January when Governor Jerry Brown began formulating a solution to solving a $26-billion state budget deficit, district staff has presented, discussed and publicly announced the effects of the waning local budget. Though not as harsh as cuts at other area school districts, staff has said, MHUSD did need to reduce its budget by about $1.26 million from programs and personnel, which makes up 80 percent of the general fund budget. The district reduced spending in a variety of ways from laying off temporary teachers to eliminating funding for middle school promotion ceremonies; the second year of an early retirement incentive off-set costs to hire back once-permanent teachers at the secondary level as temporary teachers. The largest savings came in the form of increasing class sizes in elementary school classrooms to save more than $1 million. This fall, classes district-wide will average 29 students to one teacher.
The Times reported the sentiments of Sobrato kitchen employees, some of whom were fearful they might have to get a second job since the food service budget was cutback by $15,000 or about $250 a month from employee’s salaries and affecting some out-of-pocket costs for health insurance.
No food service employees were laid off, but the individual workdays for three employees, if approved by the board, will be reduced by an hour per day. In the classrooms, 19 teachers who were in danger of being laid off in May will return to the district, though in a temporary position. Their jobs are guaranteed in a one-year contract and classified as a probationary position, with no assurance that they could be re-hired permanently.
MHUSD FACES FADING ENROLLMENT
This fall MHUSD will have 143 fewer students than last year and though it can be because families move out of the district or children grow up and out of district schools in varying waves. The school board will discuss the changes tonight.
A loss of 143 students for the district translates to about $200,000 lost from annual funding from the state, since the state funds public schools based on “annual daily attendance.” If students aren’t in class, the school district and thereby the schools lose funding for those students.
District staff will give a presentation about enrollment options for MHUSD students such as inter-district transfers, choice placement, open enrollment and choices for students in Program Improvement schools.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
WHEN: Tuesday at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Morgan Hill Unified School District board room, 15600 Concord Circle.
UP FOR DISCUSSION: Decreasing hours for lunchtime staff at Sobrato High kitchen, options for students to enroll within district boundaries, highlights of the California Student Opportunity and Access Program.
