School officials prepare for big cuts

GLENDALE — School officials Tuesday considered the effects of a possible cut of $1 million to $8.8 million from the Glendale Unified School District budget, with classes already in session.

At its meeting Tuesday, the board of education weighed in on the governor’s proposed cut of $2.5 billion to state education against the state legislative analyst’s $1-billion suggested cut, starkly different plans that could leave the district suddenly down anywhere between $40 and $300 per student more than three months into the school year, Chief Business and Financial Officer Eva Rae Lueck said.

“That is huge,” said Lueck, explaining that the district would have received a $40 increase in per-student annual funding to account for inflation, might instead receive a cut of $300 to that number.

The governor’s proposal was irresponsible, board member Nayiri Nahabedian said, explaining that the cuts would be especially troubling since California is already at the bottom of the country’s 50 states in per-pupil funding.

“It really is a real shame to be looking at public education to balance the budget,” Nahabedian said.

While the board still did not have an idea of exactly what cuts it would face, Supt. Michael Escalante explained that large cuts with operations already in progress would be difficult.

“We have contracts with employees, teachers in particular, that are for the entire year,” Escalante said. “So asking us to make significant reductions during the school year is virtually impossible.”

The district would likely be able to face midyear reductions with reserves that it has built because of cost-cutting measures in recent years, including merging positions and reducing administrative staff, Lueck said.

“Yes, we could weather that for this year,” Lueck said. “Going on to future years: very, very challenging. There would have to be significant changes.”

Also at the meeting, the district unveiled its new website, with Linda Junge, the district’s public information officer, emphasizing the site’s powerful new calendar feature, among others.

“It has the ability to consolidate multiple calendars from various school sites,” said Junge, demonstrating the calendar’s filtering option that allows users to select any school or event category for display on a compiled, color-coded list of each day’s events and activities.