recommends eliminating entire instrumental music program at elementary level.
By Carolanne Sudderth/Ocean Park Gazette
Superintendent John Deasy announced a list of potential budget cuts totaling some $13.7 million and the elimination of 277 personnel and several school programs at the Jan. 30 Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board meeting.
“The prospect of 2003-04 budget reductions in excess of $11 million leaves us with no alternative but to find ways to significantly reduce our existing work force,” he said.
It is not yet known what the effect of the proposed cuts would have on Malibu schools.
“There is still a lot we don’t know yet with the budget,” said Malibu High Principal Mike Matthews. “The [proposed] cuts in administration do not directly affect Malibu since we have none there, but the [cuts of the] classified workers will effect us directly. We don’t know how the cuts will be put into effect. We have already lost one custodian. As for teachers, they plan to cut 10, which would be a significant loss. If the parcel tax passes in June then all of the cuts will be cut in half.
“Our job is to realize these cuts are going to be painful and we have to do what we can to help the students.”
The possible passage of a bill recently approved by the Senate that would allow the increase vehicle license fees may return some $4 billion of missing money to the state. It is unknown how much of that will go to Santa Monica-Malibu schools, but Deasy said it looked as though they’ll be okay this year. But just in case, contingency plans are being made for the following school year.
These include the dismissal of 12 administrators, including the principals of Santa Monica Alternative School House (SMASH). Some 90 classified employees and 100 certificated ones will be dropped, including 66 regular teachers, one-half of the school nurses and the entire elementary instrumental music program. Other programs and services recommended for cuts include elementary library coordinators, middle and high school library assistants, physical education aides and athletic support, music aides and accompanists.
The ratio of students to teacher will be raised from 20:1 to 30:1 in the elementary schools. In middle and high schools, it will rise to 35:1 and 37:1, respectively.
The specific list of employees to be laid off will be presented to the board at its Feb. 20 and Mar 3 meetings. By that time, each employee will have received notice of the pending board action and their right to schedule a hearing before an administrative law judge. Layoffs of certificated employees will be made on a seniority basis and will be effective school year 2003/04.
The board also agreed Jan. 30 to place a flat parcel tax of $225 on a special ballot that will probably come to the voters in early June. The passage of the tax could help alleviate some of the budget cuts.
For the past several years, the music program has been at the top of the list of programs to be cut. As usual, the proposal was met with howls of protest from parents and students.
“I know you have difficult choices, but it is incomprehensible that an entire curriculum could be eliminated from the elementary instruction program in Santa Monica and Malibu,” Zina Josephs said.
Nurses said simply that cutting half their staff was not acceptable.
“An unhealthy child can’t learn,” said Cheryl Vader. There is also a risk of increased liability, she said, pointing to a situation where a student collapsed and died while the clerk looked for an inhaler. “The jury awarded $9.9 million, and the judge awarded $2.2 million.”
The school board took no action and continued the item for consideration at their next meeting at its Feb. 6 meeting, which will convene at 7 p.m. in the Malibu High School Auditorium, 30215 Morningview Drive in Malibu.