Despite the fact that California
’s state budget may be months away from appr-oval, Morgan Hill
School Board trustees must app-rove a budget for the next school
year by the end of the month. During Monday’s regular School Board
meeting, trustees will consider approving a “basic” budget.
Despite the fact that California’s state budget may be months away from appr-oval, Morgan Hill School Board trustees must app-rove a budget for the next school year by the end of the month. During Monday’s regular School Board meeting, trustees will consider approving a “basic” budget.
For the last three years, when budget-building time came around, trustees had to consider lists of painful cuts to slash millions from the budget. On Monday trustees will consider a budget that includes the addition of 20 days work for classified employees.
Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini, in charge of business services, called the budget “basic” at the May 23 meeting, and recommended that trustees wait for the state budget to be approved before considering the list of recommended “added allocations” the performance based budget committee put together.
“This is the first time in many years you don’t have to look at a list of recommended cuts,” Tognazzini said during the May 23 meeting.
This year, trustees can consider adding to the budget instead of cutting from it.
Also on Monday’s agenda are more construction issues. Trustees are asked to approve awarding a contract totaling $154,700 for “interior upgrades” for three Live Oak High classroom buildings.
During the May 23 meeting, trustees discussed the work that was needed to complete the remodeling of Live Oak, a project that has been on hold for several years. The board had requested district staff put together a report on available funding for the project and a plan to get it started again.
The elementary music program is on the agenda as an information item. At an earlier board meeting, the district’s band directors presented three proposals to protect and improve the program, which has barely survived the cuts of previous years. Trustees asked that the proposals be considered by the performance-based budget committee as they put together their recommendations for next year’s budget.
Before Monday’s meeting begins, trustees will hold a reception for Superintendent Carolyn McKenna, who will be leaving the district when her contract expires June 30.
The board invites the community to the reception in honor McKennan and her nine years of accomplishments and achievement as superintendent of the Morgan Hill School District. McKennan has served as superintendent since 1996. This will be her last board meeting with MHSD. The reception will begin at 5:30pm in the District Office board room; the board meeting will begin at 6pm. Details: 201-6000.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 ext. 202.
