School district mulling cuts
Not unlike most other school districts throughout the state, the Plumas Lake Elementary District is facing extreme budget cuts for the second year in a row.
Over the past two years, the district has had to cut $1.5 million out of its total budget of $8 million because of state cuts to K-12 education.
"These are difficult times in education and I am sad to have to recommend any cuts,” said Superintendent Jeff Roberts. "I know that we are talking about people's livelihoods and I am sorry that we have been placed in this horrible situation."
The district has been working diligently over the past four months to present to the board a balanced package of options that seeks to fill this year’s gap of $500,000. The board will be meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at Cobblestone Elementary to discuss and determine cuts for the district’s 2010-11 school year. The recommended cuts and savings were brought together and ranked by a committee established by the board. The committee is comprised of parents, teachers, staff and community representatives.
The committee solicited the opinion of parents and teachers through a survey and community forums that allowed everyone to have a voice. Tough choices include cuts to educational services, such as physical education and music, and staff, such as those responsible for janitorial services, to be eliminated. The committee ranked its opinion of the appropriate cuts during a final meeting in February and has presented its options to the board.
The board will make its decisions based on the committee’s and the superintendent’s recommendations, which include reducing the school year by five days.
The board is encouraging parents to join Plumas Lake teachers, classified staff, administrators and district personnel on Thursday, March 4 for a quick chat and snack as they drop their children off for school. The board and schools will be hosting a potluck from 7:15 – 8:05 a.m. at each school site where parents can learn about the budget cuts the state is facing, how it has affected the district budget and how parents can help ensure no more cuts are placed on education.
“I strongly recommend that people contact their legislators and tell them to make education funding a high priority,” said Roberts.
For more information or for a full list of recommended cuts, please visit the district’s Budget Committee Web site.
KNOW AND GO
- Board meeting, Tuesday, March 2, Cobblestone Elementary, 7 p.m.
Plumas Lake Life correspondent Michele Perrault can be reached at 763-3380 or e-mail her at mperrault@plumaslakelife.com
