Board adopts 2010-2011 proposed budget

At their June 16 meeting, the Board adopted the 2010-2011 Proposed Budget after a public hearing on the topic. The budget is essentially unchanged from the initially proposed plan that includes reductions of approximately $24 million and use of reserves to close a $28 million gap created by the State’s drastic cuts to public education over the past 12 months.  At the meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Michael Johnston noted that the use of just over $4 million of the District’s reserve fund was less than originally expected because of work to further reduce expenditures and slightly increased attendance revenue than previously planned. In part, the reductions come through the implementation of a 2% salary reduction and the establishment of three furlough days for employees effective in 2010-2011, and the retirements of more than 160 employees.  Because of these changes, the budget reductions did not include the layoff of any regular employee of Clovis Unified.   Though California has yet to adopt its 2010-2011 budget, school districts must formally adopt a proposed budget prior to June 30.  When the State legislature and governor agree to a budget sometime later this year, CUSD will adjust its adopted budget as necessary and submit a final plan to the Board within 45 days of the State’s budget adoption.  Questions about the District’s budget can be directed to the Business Services Office at 327-9127.

Board takes final action to end budget shortfall, approves salary schedule reductions, furlough days

April 29, 2010 Update

During their final meeting in April, the Governing Board regretfully accepted the recommendation of the Employee Compensation Committee to trim $6.2 million from the 2010-11 budget through the implementation of salary schedule reductions and furlough days.  Before the Board’s vote, Superintendent Dave Cash, Ed.D. said, “No one is happy recommending a reduction in salary. No one is happy taking home less pay next year… However, I believe that in the future, years from now, the work done by our employees in their willingness to sacrifice, will be remembered as one of our District’s finest hours; when in the toughest of times, we held true to the core values of our District and the community we serve; and continued to put students first.”

The vote came after a public hearing was held on the proposed two percent reduction to all salary schedules for 2010-2011, an additional two percent reduction in 2011-2012, and the addition of three furlough days to all work schedules beginning in 2010-2011.  The Clovis Unified Employee Compensation Committee has spent the last several months meeting with District administrators and developing a proposal for possible salary schedule adjustments and/or the use of furlough days to help make up a portion of the District’s expected $28 million budget shortfall in 2010-2011.  After taking action to approve the salary reductions and furlough days, several members of the Board expressed deep appreciation for members of the Employee Compensation Committee and all CUSD employees for their willingness to work together as a team to preserve the core principles and values of the District and its students.

During the meeting, the Board also approved the retirement of an additional 49 employees under the second retirement incentive window offered this year.  It is anticipated that an additional $400,000 will be saved annually  as a result of the retirements.

According to Associate Superintendent Steve Ward, the compensation changes, combined with dollars saved through employee retirements, and additional operational budget reductions, close over $21 million of the District’s budget shortfall.  A portion of the District’s reserve fund will be used to close the remainder in 2010-2011.  “While we will always look for ways to reduce expenses and increase efficiency, we do not have plans for additional major compensation or operational cuts based on the state’s current budget proposal,” Ward said.

The next step in California's budget adoption process will be taken when Gov. Schwarzenegger releases his May Revise proposal.  To view more information about the salary reduction and furlough schedule recommendation adopted by the Board, click here.

Board takes steps to close budget gap

January 20, 2010 Update

Early in the January 21 Governing Board meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Michael Johnston presented a brief update on the impact of the Governor’s 2010-2011 budget proposal on Clovis Unified.  Though the Governor pledged to protect funding for public education, his initial budget proposal includes more than $1.5 billion in new cuts to California’s schools, which translates to an additional $8.2 million in cuts that Clovis Unified will have to absorb into its 2010-2011 budget.

The new reductions consist primarily of additional on-going cuts to per pupil revenue and a first ever negative cost of living adjustment (COLA) of -.38% to all funding sources.  According to Johnston, the proposed cuts are in addition to previous State budget reductions totaling $19.8 million, bringing the total cuts necessary to balance Clovis Unified’s 2010-2011 budget to $28 million.  Including an additional list of budget reductions approved by the Board later in the Jan. 21 meeting, to date $12.8 million in reductions have been approved.

The Board will spend the next two months working with the District’s administration to identify another $15.1 million in reductions that must be made to ensure Clovis Unified has a balanced budget moving into 2010-2011.  Johnston also cautioned that there will be many revisions to the State’s current 2010-2011 budget proposal before it is approved by the legislature and Governor, which may result in even greater reductions in funding to public schools.   Operating off of the current budget proposal, a third round of reductions will be recommended to the Board in late February.

In response to this update, members of the Board and Superintendent Dr. Dave Cash reaffirmed the District’s commitment to protecting the jobs of existing employees and maintaining CUSD’s high quality educational program, even while preparing to make dramatic reductions to the District’s already stretched budget. 

December 9, 2009 Update

Before the start of their regularly scheduled meeting on December 9, 2009, the Governing Board participated in a workshop on the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 District budget.  California’s currently adopted budget has resulted in the need to reduce more than $16 million from the District’s on-going general fund budget, with that number increasing to $19.8 million in 2010-11.  During the workshop, the Board discussed a list of possible budget reductions that were created by a Budget Standards Committee made up of parents, employees, business representatives and members of the Governing Board. Included in the Budget Standards Committee discussions were more than 150 budget saving suggestions submitted by community members and employees over the past several months.

Later that night, the Board took a significant step toward closing the budget gap by approving $10.8 million in reductions for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.  Implementation of many of these reductions has already started, resulting in savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars in the 2009-2010 budget year.  These partially implemented reductions will now be fully incorporated into the District’s budget for the 2010-2011, resulting in the full $10.8 million annual savings.  

These reductions range from increasing class sizes in grades 1-3 and ninth grade English and math, to a reduction in administrative/management staffing at the district level, to reducing equipment and supply budgets to some district departments, and reflect the Board’s commitment to maintaining the jobs of all current Clovis Unified employees and protecting the delivery of high quality educational programs to all CUSD students.

The Board must now identify an additional $9 million in reductions to balance the 2010-2011 budget before June 30, and will spend the next several months collecting additional information from the Administration and community before making their decisions.  To view the list of suggested budget reductions now under consideration by the Board, click here.  To share your thoughts on any of the reductions now under consideration, please submit the form below.

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