Posted by: thepinetree on 07/01/2010 03:54 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 07/02/2010 08:59 AM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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Final Budget approved for Mark Twain School District: Layoffs Postponed, Deep Cuts Imminent~by Charity Maness
Mark Twain Elementary School District is no stranger to last minute budget balancing acts, and by no means insulated from the current financial woes that seem to be affecting every aspect of our states basic services. With a projected “shortfall of $825,000 going into the 2010/2011 school year” some hefty and costly cuts needed to be made by the deadline on June 30, 2010. With state funding obsolete and blatantly lacking equality, union contracts approved in 2006 but not funded since 2008, and a large number of students seeking alternative forms of education (homeschooling, .....
private school, etc.) the district has its thumbs in a press. Being a Revenue Limit District the districts main source of income is per-student funding from the state combined with property taxes equaling approximately $4,700 per student. As opposed to its neighboring school district which is a Basic Aid district receiving most of its funding through its property taxes equaling approximately $10,500 per student.
Currently Mark Twain School District has been “designated by the State as a Qualified Status school” meaning that if they cannot get a handle on the current and looming financial crisis the district “will not be able to meet its financial obligations three years from now” leading to “state intervention and possible operation” of the district. Note: surrounding school districts currently have a Positive Status budget certification with no anticipation of a possible State takeover in the near future.
With the final budget approved at the June 24, 2010 MTSD Board meeting Mark Twain and Copperopolis school sites will see increased class sizes K-8, science camp transportation and stipends cancelled, cuts to: library staffing, playground and lunch supervision, classroom aides, counseling services and technology support and elimination of deferred maintenance fund. The creative accounting needed to balance the budget leaves the district financially vulnerable. There is no wiggle room for site repairs; be it repairs to A/C, heating, roofing, playground equip, etc. It also leaves the reserves set at 4%, the minimum the State will allow a school to maintain.
The original layoffs were projected at four certified staff but Superintendent Northington stated the district was able to save the positions due to stimulus money, tentative enrollment and teacher retirements. Stimulus money from the State is money given for one year with the intent that staff will be trained to do more with less, it is never meant to fulfill long term expenses such as salaries. The positions that have been saved this school year with stimulus money have been titled ‘temporary contracts’ due to the nature of the funding. Expenditures have been cut in: employee benefits, books and supplies, curriculum adoption, and operating expenses, while cost has risen in certificated salaries (teachers) and restricted classified salaries (teacher support staff, ie: aides). ‘Certified salaries have been budgeted with step and column increase.’ AND ‘Classified salaries have been budgeted with step and column increases.’
Remarks within quotations are taken from the Calaveras County 2009-2010 Grand Jury Final Report. Remarks within single quotations are taken from the MTUSD distributed final budget.
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