KHSD looks at extra $40 million in cuts
BY JEFF NACHTIGAL, Californian staff writer jnachtigal@bakersfield.com
In February the Kern High School District faced a $22 million budget shortfall.
But as taxes continue to decline, and with polls forecasting the May 19 propositions that would help balance the state budget failing, a “worst-case scenario” has the district facing an additional $40 million in cuts, according to Superintendent Don Carter.
Carter bases his scenario on the state bringing in $1 billion less personal tax revenue than projected, $800 million less sales tax, and a 10.3 percent drop in local property tax revenue.
When local property taxes drop, the state traditionally kicks in more funding for school districts to make up the difference, but Carter questioned if the state would be able to provide that “backfill,” given that so many other counties face a similar financial situation.
The board of trustees will vote on further budget cuts before the final budget for 2009-10 is due June 30.
The board approved the move of $16.7 million out of categorically funded programs, such as adult education, high school exit exam test preparation, counseling, and textbooks and into the district’s unrestricted general fund.
On the bright side of the financial ledger, KHSD will receive approximately $13 million in federal stimulus funding for low income students and students with disabilities.
And by the end of May, KHSD is in line to receive a portion of California’s $2.56 billion in federal stimulus stabilization funds to “jump start school reform ... while also saving and creating jobs,” according to a release from the California Department of Education.
With the stabilization funding the district would likely “postpone future cuts, not rescind cuts” for the coming year, Carter said.
In other business:
Too many seniors have been cutting classes, so beginning next year seniors who cut more than 30 times won’t be eligible for the commencement ceremony, according to new district guidelines.
The district is working with the Department of Public Health Services to provide fliers and information about in all schools about the H1N1 “swine flu” virus. Students with any symptoms will be screened, and the district will count parent-approved absences as “warranted” instead of unexcused. There are no suspected cases in the district, according to Director of Pupil Personnel Alan Paradise.
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