News from the West Contra Costa Unified School District
1108 Bissell Avenue * Richmond, CA * 94801-3135
Contact: Paul Ehara (510) 620-2246
Board removes school closures from 2004-05 proposed reductions list
At the Monday, Feb. 2 public budget hearing held at Pinole Valley High School, Superintendent Gloria Johnston announced that the Board of Education, as a negotiations-related issue, voted in closed session to not close any elementary schools for 2004-05 school year.
The news brought cheers from the standing-room-only crowd of parents, families, staff, and other citizens who feared their schools may have been considered for consolidation. While the announcement brought a palpable sense of relief to the hundreds of people in attendance, Dr. Johnston tempered the news with the fact that the district still faces the daunting task of closing its most recent worst-case budget forecast of a $23 million budget shortfall for next year.
"In my 35 years in public education, this is the most serious financial situation that I've seen," Dr. Johnston said, adding that as a result, the district faces severe cuts to balance next year's budget.
Ruth Vedovelli, assistant superintendent for fiscal services, presented a fiscal forecast at the meeting which outlines four possible budget scenarios that the district must prepare for:
> Scenario 1: Measure J, the district's local $7.5 million parcel tax- and State Propositions 57 and 58 (related to the Governor's $15 billion bond) fail at the polls, $23.4 million targeted reductions
> Scenario 2: Measure J passes but Props 57 and 58 fail, $15.9 million targeted reductions
> Scenario 3: Props 57 and 58 pass but Measure J fails, $20 million targeted reductions
> Scenario 4: Both Measure J and Props 57 and 58 pass, $12.4 million targeted reductions.
Ms. Vedovelli also presented a revised list of proposed budget reductions for 2004-05. Board members are expected to decide on final budget reductions at their March 3, 2004 meeting to be held at DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.