It was only fitting that as he prepared to present the proposed 2010-2011 budget for Culver City Unified School District on Tuesday, June 22, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Ali Delawalla could not get the laptop computer/overhead projector to work.
Yes, it was only a momentary stumbling block during the latest meeting of the CCUSD Board of Education, which ultimately included a unanimous 5-0 vote on said budget. Yet, it offers a perfect metaphor for all the hurdles the board and CCUSD must find a way to overcome as it looks forward to the next school year.
With the state of California only “guaranteeing” to provide $5,027 per student in for the next three school years — a mere $12 more than what was being provided back in the 2003-04 school year — it’s clear that, once again, local schools are going to be asked to do more with less. Much, much less.
“It is critical that we start working on the reductions as soon as possible, because it’s a large number,” said Delawalla, pointing to a $42 million state funding loss bridging the five school years beginning with 2008-2009 and concluding in 2012-2013. “The state may issue IOUs.”
Delawalla’s presentation also included core assumptions including an annual $1 million in parcel tax revenue for each of the next five years, a slight increase in redevelopment revenue, savings of $755,000 created through the furlough days agreement the board approved Tuesday night, and board-approved budget reductions totaling slightly more than $1 million.
All told, the CCUSD budget could see as much as a $5.7 million deficit come 2012-2013 unless significant corrective action is taken.
Also Tuesday night, Drew Sotelo, assistant director of child welfare and attendance, presented CCUSD’s enrollment projection for the 2010-2011 school year. Much like the district budget — which is constantly in flux as the state struggles with its own budgeting decisions — Sotelo admitted that enrollment projection is largely a crapshoot this summer given the circumstances surrounding Los Angeles Unified School District’s new policy regarding inter-district permits.
Asked by the board to pin down a date when he would have a firm idea how the numbers will eventually shake out, Sotelo — and several CCUSD employees in attendance — confirmed it likely won’t happen until at least three days into the new school year.
Editor Scott Tittrington can be reached at (310) 437-4401 ext. 210 or editor@culvercitynews.org.
