SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : School Board OKs Budget, Retains Cuts

Despite reports of additional funding from Sacramento, the Capistrano Unified School District adopted its $112-million budget this week without restoring its early elementary music program or reducing its class size.

Trustees said that despite reports the district could receive an additional $2 million from the state next year, it would be imprudent to rescind any cuts scheduled for the 1991-92 school year until the Legislature passes and the governor signs the state budget.

The trustees’ decision drew sharp criticism from the teachers union, which accused the district of exaggerating its projected expenditures while underestimating its revenue. Officials of the Capistrano Unifed Teachers Assn. charged that the district overestimated its expenses by more than $3 million during this school year.

Last month, the board cut more than $4 million from the budget by eliminating more than 20 programs, including specialized music education at the kindergarten through third-grade level, and raising the district’s average class size by one.

“It hurts me to think we are going to cut the music program,” Trustee Annette B. Gude said. “Maybe there is going to be some more money; maybe there won’t. I just don’t think it would be prudent at this time for the district to change its course.”

Gov. Pete Wilson originally wanted to cut $2 billion from the next education budget, but backed down after he did not garner enough legislative support.

Capistrano Supt. Jerome R. Thornsley reminded the board that it can decide during the summer or early next fall to reinstate the programs. But in the meantime, he suggested that the board be “very conservative.”

Ric Stephenson, the teachers union president, accused the administration of inflating the district’s expected expenses in order to make its financial picture gloomier than it actually is.

He said a union study of the district’s expenses for the 1990-91 school year shows that the district will spend about $3 million less than anticipated.

Carole F. Bailey, the district’s director of fiscal services, said she would rather forecast higher expenses and end up with a surplus than forecast lower expenses and have an overrun.