Budget News
by Donald Armstrong
The Fort Bragg Unified School District has tried to keep our public informed throughout the economic crisis and the budget battles in the State legislature. Inevitably, regardless of what happens in Sacramento, school starts and students and teachers return to the classrooms. Now that we are back doing the job we are mandated to do, we can give you an update on where we have landed budget wise.
For starters, even though there is a budget signed, we are not out
of the woods. The State’s budget is based on some assumptions that
may not come to pass, as well as the usual borrowing and payment
deferrals we have experienced over the past several years. Given
this situation, it would not surprise us to see another round of
budget cuts mid-year. For the time being, we move ahead.
The best news is that the threatened 65% cut to transportation did
not happen. There was a cut closer to 20%. While any cut hurts, we
are able to continue our transportation services to the entire
District. This helps us keep up the average daily attendance that
brings in the bulk of the funds to the District.
We were also able to keep most all of our teachers. Unfortunately,
we did have to give one lay-off notice to a teacher however this
was more due to declining enrollment than budget concerns. This
individual was placed on a re-hire list and will be eligible for
the next teaching opening in the District within their
credential.
The group that suffered the most was the instructional assistants
on our sites. In an attempt to keep all of our classes and
programs, it meant that some of the support staff had to be let go.
These people did wonderful things for children and their loss will
make teaching our students that much more difficult. However, we
were able to maintain all of our art and music programs, as well as
the other electives we offer the students in middle and high
school.
Sports and music transportation and supplies have been cut. We will
be asking parents to donate to these programs to keep them alive.
These extra-curricular and co-curricular programs are important to
the students’ school experience. We hope that our community
realizes their importance and can help.
There are some other minor cuts, reductions in discretionary
spending, district office staff reductions and shifting of duties
in order to stay the course. FBUSD budgets very conservatively, and
that has paid off again. We are not in near the dire straits that
some other districts are experiencing. Thank you all for your
support of the District as we go about our mission for the students
of our community.
