The Latest CUSDF News

The CUSD Foundation is pleased to announce its newest corporate sponsors:

Visionary Sponsor – WLC Architects, Inc. / Rancho Cucamonga

Recognized as a leader in California public school architecture, the firm serves on many state and national committees supporting educational and environmental design. Primary organizational include the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, California School Board Association, California Association of School Administrators, Southern California City Superintendents, and the Council for Educational facility Planners, International.

Benevolent Sponsor – Barcelona Resort Apartments / Aliso Viejo

Apartment and townhome living at its best. Beautifully landscaped grounds create a wonderful living environment, offering amenities such as tennis courts, swimming pools, and a fully- equipped fitness center. Fine dining, shopping, and entertainment walking distance away.

Local: Budget Cuts Implemented

Due to reduced funding levels from the state, the CUSD Board of Trustees has to cut $25 million from the 2009-10 budget, plus an additional $5.5 million in cuts for 2010-11. The Board approved the following cuts on April 13. 2009:

• Elimination of Class Size Reduction (CSR) program – Grades 1-3 classes will go up to 31.5:1.
• Increasing class size by .5 in Kindergarten and grades 4-12.
• Elimination of 9 Assistant Principals at K-5 schools and 2 across the Middle Schools.
• The majority of categorical dollars were swept up.
• 17.5 guidance counselor positions were eliminated leaving 2 at each high school (down from 3 currently).
• Reduced funding for high school sports.
• Trustees also approved CUSD’s professional management association (CUMA) offer to take 5 furlough days, for a total savings of $500,000.

Block music at the elementary level was preserved.

AVID was preserved.

However, due to the May 19, 2009 Special Election outcome and continued lower than projected state revenues, school direct are anticipating that more cuts will be necessary- despite the federal stimulus dollars.

State: Budget, May 19th Special Election Results

Propositions 1A through 1E failed by about 2:1 in all cases and Proposition 1F passed by about 3:1.

This created an additional $6 billion budget gap in the state budget for 2009-10.

Governor’s May Revise:
In the Governor’s May Revise, under the scenario that May 19 ballot measure 1A-1E failed, the budget deficit is projected to be $21.3 billion through June2010.

As part of the solution to address the shortfall, the Governor has proposed the following for education:

• Cuts of $1.6 billion for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends June 30.
• Cuts of nearly $3.7 billion for next year

Total cuts to education would be $5.3 billion that are proposed to be achieved by:

• Allowing school districts to tap their reserves and federal stimulus dollars
• Allowing school districts to lesson the school year by 7 days
• Delaying text book adoptions
• Diverting Classroom Size Reduction (CSR) funds to other purposes

None of this is final yet. The next step is for the Legislature to begin their work to resolve this budget shortfall.

 

News Release: Negotiations update from the CUSD website