Districts plan for budget shortfalls

Just like every year, thousands of students around the city — from new kindergartners to college seniors — are spending the month registering for classes and stocking up on filler paper, colored pencils and Snack Packs.

But on the first day of school, many of the youngest primary school students will find their classrooms filled with more fellow students than last year. Community college students will pay an extra $6 per unit for each class they want to take. University students may pay thousands more.

Each district, school and classroom is adjusting in its own way to the state’s budget turmoil. Although the state budget was signed in late July, area districts are still in a holding pattern, waiting for the final word as to how much they’ll have to do without.

“Obviously, overall it’s very devastating to all of education,” said William Loose, Ocean View School District’s assistant superintendent for administrative services. “We’re continuing to deal with massive cuts in our district, but we’re doing the best we can.”

His district doesn’t anticipate making any additional changes for the current year. The district already has increased some class sizes from 21 to 24 students, reconfigured some middle school classes, released temporary teachers and “swept” some categorical funds to use in other areas, which the state permitted in a one-time move.

“It’s a smorgasbord approach,” Loose said.

The district takes a conservative approach to reserving “rainy day” funds, saving more than the state minimum to use in lean times.

“I think that’s one of the things that’s helped our district,” Loose said. “We’ve saved a lot of people’s jobs. That may be why our cuts have not been as drastic as other districts.”

Two years ago, the district reduced its custodial hours. It also has cut some management positions, and other positions remain open.

The “holding pattern” plan is similar at the Fountain Valley School District.

“We’re still calculating out what the impact will be,” Supt. Marc Ecker said. “It does take a little bit of time for some of the regulations to come down to us and be finalized. There are also quirks that need to be considered.”

The newly signed state budget may call for a loss of about $1.8 million to Fountain Valley, based on current enrollment and attendance estimates. The district’s administrators and school board are mulling ways to cover that loss, which could include backfilling federal stimulus funds or using available special education funds. It may opt to not buy new textbooks.

But this isn’t a surprise to the district, which has already taken a proactive approach, making cuts in advance of predicted encroachments.

The district’s Professional Learning Communities, collaborative staff development programs, have been eliminated — as have literacy and technology programs.

The district’s first and second grades now will have up to 30 students in each class.

District officials statewide hope plans to restructure the state’s school funding system continue to be developed.

“The way the whole system is configured obviously isn’t working,” Loose said. “When the economy goes bad like this, it causes huge spikes.”

In the meantime, all local districts plan to work on the issue in the coming weeks and months. Loose urged community members to stay informed and attend board and Community Budget Advisory Committee meetings.

“We’re looking for any good ideas, from anybody,” he said.

Upcoming Board Meetings

Ocean View: 7 p.m. Tuesday, 17200 Pinehurst Lane, Huntington Beach

Fountain Valley: 7 p.m. Aug. 27, 10055 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley

Huntington Beach City: 7 p.m. Aug. 25, 20451 Craimer Lane, Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach Union: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 5832 Bolsa Ave., Huntington Beach