LONG BEACH - The Long Beach Unified Board of Education today will consider closing summer school and freezing open teaching positions next year in a round of budget cuts meant to save $13 million.
While the passage of Proposition 30 prevented severe program cuts, the district is still facing a $20 million deficit in the 2012-2013 fiscal year due to years of state funding cuts, officials said.
The sales tax hike passed last month is meant to provide funding for California's schools.
The district's structural deficit would have ballooned to $55 million next year had Prop. 30 failed, officials said.
The LBUSD is projecting a $57 million deficit by the end of the 2014-2015 fiscal year if it doesn't make reductions.
The first phase of proposed reductions for a savings of $13.8 million includes: Closing grades six through seven at Burcham School, transportation reductions, eliminating summer school in 2013, eliminating the AVID college prep program, cuts to special education, and freezing open positions for teachers and other staff.
As part of this reduction plan, the board last month voted to close Monroe K-8 school in Lakewood for a savings of $2.7 million. The closing of the AVID program, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, would save $1 million annually.
The board in coming months is expected to also consider other budget reductions, which could include more small school closures, reductionsto programs and services, and other measures designed to safeguard the LBUSD's fiscal health, officials said.
No comments:
Post a Comment