Menifee school board members refine list of proposed cuts

By: CATHY REDFERN - Staff Writer
Class sizes, busing, new school openings remain threatened | Tuesday, February 19, 2008 10:33 PM PST ∞

MENIFEE -- To applause from an audience of about 175 teachers and parents, school board members Tuesday nixed some proposed cuts to programs as they grappled with ways to slash $10 million from the district budget over the next two school years.

The Menifee Union School District's current annual budget is $63 million, staff members said.

The $10 million would be offset, in part, by an anticipated $2 million state grant for districts that operate their schools year-round, and from $5.7 million in cuts to various budgets and programs in addition to freezing 17 vacant positions.

That leaves school board members facing some tough choices on how to cut another $2.3 million. They are scheduled to vote on those reductions at a meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Menifee Valley Middle School.

"Funny, this was supposed to be the year of education," Board member Robert O'Donnell said. "Well, we don't feel too happy about this special year of education. Hopefully, the decisions won't go too close to the classroom, but there will be some effect. We're all going to feel some hurt from this."

Spared from the budget axe Tuesday were elementary school music programs, reduced class sizes for first and second graders and school counseling at the district's elementary and middle schools. Several parents and teachers implored the board not to cut those programs.

Remaining possible reductions include eliminating the bus program for all students except those in special education, doing away with reduced class sizes for kindergartners and/or third-graders, closing Menifee Elementary School next year and delaying the planned July opening of two new elementary schools.

Like its kin across the state, Menifee Union School District is reeling from an expected loss of revenue stemming from the state budget crisis, coupled with a lack of growth in funding because enrollment growth is slowing.

Staff members Tuesday presented a list of cost-cutting items. None of them called for laying off employees, though scaling back on busing and reduced class sizes would result in the loss of some jobs. About 90 percent of the budget consists of personnel costs, administrators said.

Parent and teacher Don Maple told the board they should consider cutting their own salaries and benefits, and those of top administrators.

"Look at that before you go to the front line, to students and teachers," he said. "And we need to recognize that we have a state government which spends way too much money. They saw this coming and failed to act."

The most expensive action still under consideration is school busing. Eliminating busing for elementary school students would save $1.6 million and while eliminating it for middle school students would save $1.5 million, Assistant Superintendent Dan Wood said.

About 30 percent of the district's students ride the bus to and from school, he said. Raising bus fees by 20 percent would save about $35,000 per year, Wood said.

The second largest savings would come from a one-year delay in opening the two new schools, which would save $1.1 million, administrators said. The schools are under construction in Quail Valley and in Menifee, east of Highway 215 between Newport and Scott roads.

Eliminating smaller classes for kindergarten and third grade would save about $850,000 in the next two school years, starting with the one that begins July 1, officials said. Closing Menifee Elementary School in fiscal year 2008-09 would save about $590,000.

Currently, classes in kindergarten through the third grade are limited to 20 students. If the limits on class sizes were scrapped, classes would grow to about 30 students per class, Wood said.

Bonnie Chilton, a first-grade teacher at Chester Morrison Elementary School, said she was "frazzled" to realize all the proposed cuts one week before the decision is to be made. She said she felt she did not have time to prepare a response.

She also told board members that she could not imagine a classroom full of 50 percent more students.

"Our standards are high," she said. "We are under so much pressure as parents and teachers. I can't imagine doing it with 10 more kids."

Parent Cynthia Brown urged the board to spare Menifee Elementary.

"What will happen to all these kids?" she said. "Think about the effect of putting them in a new school for one year. Please do not close the school down."

Law dictates that the district adopt a budget for the coming school year by June 30, and it also must outline a proposed budget for the following two years, staff members said.

The district estimates enrollment will grow by 2 percent in the next two school years. Growth has been flat this year, staff members said, and must grow by 2.5 percent to keep up with costs.

-- Contact staff writer Cathy Redfern at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or e-mail credfern@californian.com.

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