Changing special education programs could save money

Deirdre Newman

NEWPORT-MESA -- Revamping the way special education programs are

delivered may be an answer to solving some of the district’s budget woes,

an advisory committee told the school board in its final report of the

year.

The encroachment of special education mandates eats up a significant

portion of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s general budget each

year.

Encroachment occurs when the state or federal government mandates

certain programs, but does not provide the funds to implement them. For

special education, the federal government makes many mandates, but does

not fully fund them, leaving the local districts to fill in the gap.

The budget advisory committee, which just wrapped up its two-year

term, examined four different areas of the budget -- real estate and

facilities, energy, personnel and encroachment.

The group found that delivering special education in a more

cost-effective way could put more money back in district coffers than the

other three areas studied, said committee chair Bob Love.

School board president Judy Franco said the district is already trying

to address the problem of encroachment.

“Have we completed that process? No, it’s ongoing,” Franco said.

The budget advisory committee was formed after millions of dollars

were embezzled from the district in 1992 with the goal of dealing with

general budget issues.

But the committee’s focus has narrowed over the years as previous

committees have struggled with “putting their arms around the budget,”

said assistant superintendent Mike Fine.

As for the other issues studied, Love said, the money brought in from

real estate and facilities also needs to be dealt with in a timely

manner, especially since it’s been so long since the district adjusted

its rates for outside groups to use its facilities.

“What we attempted to do was to simplify the mechanisms used to charge

outside parties and therefore make it easier to keep those fees updated,”

Love said.

This same suggestion, made by the group last year, to charge outside

groups to use school faculties was met by public outrage as Cub Scout

masters and the like from across both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa

converged on the school board to fight the idea. Scout masters said

school usage fees would crush the programs out of existence. The idea was

taken off the table.

The committee also examined the steps the district could take to cut

down on its energy cost. It also recommended linking performance with pay

for the classified staff, which includes positions like administrators.

Love, who has served on the committee for almost two years, said he is

choosing not to serve any longer, partially because of the frustration he

said he felt at meetings where not enough people showed up to have a

quorum.

“I feel that there are a number of community opportunities that are

more productive at this point in time,” Love said.

Fine said he understands the dissatisfaction that some members feel.

“Part of that is just simply there’s not a pressing issue,” he said.

“Unlike when the [committee] started, there’s not a problem that they’re

tackling.”

Members currently serve a two-year term that can be extended by one

additional year, but few people serve for the maximum time, Fine said.

Love suggested the board waive the term limit until there’s greater

interest in the community.