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Politics & Government

MDUSD Tackles 'Worst-Case' Budget Scenario

To save money if the state can't pass a budget, part of the district's plan is to reduce all special education resource assistants to three-hour work days.

The Mount Diablo Unified School District board Tuesday voted to approve budget reductions that envision the “worst-case scenario.”

The reductions are aimed at covering funding cuts expected if Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal does not go through and he is not able to effectively address California’s $9.6 billion deficit. If his proposed tax extensions don't succeed, school districts across the state will have to make reductions that equate to cuts of approximately $330 per student.

For its 2011-12 budget, the school board agreed to, among other things, reduce all special education resource assistants to three-hour work days, eliminate seven full-time equivalent employees, including an inventory and materials storekeeper, and relocate funds generated from Measure A (the 1989 ‘Mello-Roos’ parcel tax). The board also agreed to changes for transportation and facility use for athletics programs.

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Many at the meeting spoke out against reducing the hours for special education assistants, saying these employees would no longer qualify for benefits and cutting their hours would strain special education teachers and students. 

Trustee Cheryl Hansen agreed that the district would have difficulty retaining and developing staff because only part-time positions could be offered “to people who can’t survive on that pay and almost to have to do (the work) as a hobby." She recommended holding off on the decision to cut these employees' hours until the June 28 meeting so board members could look at the issue in more detail.

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Board president Gary Eberhart said there was no reason to wait. Although he acknowledged that the programs slated to be cut are essential for students, he also added, “we have to give our staff directions on reductions to our budget [for it to] be approved by the county… anything we remove from this list we have to replace with something else.”

In the end, Eberhart, Linda Mayo and Sherry Whitmarsh voted in favor of the cuts to special education resource assistants. Hansen and Lynne Dennler voted no.

***** 

Also on the agenda:

  • A reminder that students in grades seven through 12 are required to get the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) immunization before starting school next year. Only 32 percent of the students in the district have complied with the requirements. Without the immunization the students will not be allowed to go to school. This directly affects the district because fewer students in the classrooms means the district will face penalties for having a low average daily attendance (ADA). 
  • The district also gave the go-ahead for the SunPower Corporation to begin construction on a district-wide solar energy project, which would bring solar power to 51 sites in the district.
  • The board did not vote but discussed California Senate Bill 1413, which “requires schools districts to provide access to free, fresh drinking water during meal times in school food service areas by July 1, 2011" -- unless a school district explains why it is unable to meet those requirements. Ten sites in the Mount Diablo school district don't comply with these requirements. However, Eberhart argued it was due to the fact that drinking fountains are accessible to students though they are not within a certain number of feet from the food line. “Students are not going thirsty on our sites,” argued Eberhart. The issue will be addressed during the next board meeting.
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