OUSD cuts $1.7 million
By Bret Bradigan

The Ojai Unified School District board of trustees approved Tuesday evening a $24.174 million budget that eliminated 13 teaching, 15 classified and 2 administrative jobs, cutting out $1.7 million.

And there may be worse to come. The state budget, which provides the bulk of the district's financing, appears to be a long way from its completion, with deficits approaching $38 billion and threat of recall hanging over Gov. Gray Davis' head. Until that situation is settled, uncertainty looms over funding for local school districts.

Despite the dire prognosis and job losses, the public at large was largely absent from the budget hearing, prompting board member Bob Unruhe to quip, "We spend $25 million and no one says anything." Board member Rikki Horne said, "They may all be at the city," where the Ojai City Council was dealing with their own budget crisis.
The budget, as passed, reflects $480,000 in losses from teacher job cuts, as well as $200,000 in classified staff cuts and $140,000 in administrative staff cuts.

Assistant Superintendent Jim Berube said that negotiations with the California State Employees Association representatives for classified cuts took months, and required ample amounts of good will on both sides. "It's a grueling journey that we're taking here," he said. "We're moving closer and closer to the classroom."

It was Superintendent Dr. Van Riley's final meeting before taking over as head of the Huntington Beach Unified High School District.

During the Superintendent's report, Riley ruefully summed up his two years at the district, "We have less money and fewer students." During the past year's budget crunch, when dozens of members of the public were harsh in their criticism of budget plans, Riley said he drafted up a list of positive developments during his tenure. That list contained more than 100 items, including increased test scores, doubling the number of computers in the district, and millions of dollars in new grants.

"Watching those students cross that stage (during Thursday's graduation ceremonies at Nordhoff High School) gave me a great feeling that I've been a part of that."

Board members were unequivocal in their praise of both Riley and departing Matilija Junior High School Principal Christine Golden, who will be replaced by Doug Becker, and who will, in turn, be replaced at Summit and San Antonio Elementary Schools by teacher and former acting Meiners Oak principal John LeSuer.

Board member Kathi Smith told Riley "that hallmark of the benefits you've given us is common sense." Horne noted a list of new programs and projects, particularly staff training in diversity and support for music education. "You've touched them all," she said. "You leave a significant legacy."

Dannielle Pusatere, the district's budget officer, said, in response to board concern, that even without a state budget in place, the district would not face a cash flow crisis. "We will not have a problem paying payroll," she said.

While the board approved a waiver of the state's teacher credential requirements for difficult-to-fill positions in math, language, chemistry and others, Superintendent-in-waiting Dr. Tim Baird gave an update on the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act that requires all school districts to have "highly qualified" teachers, with appropriate credentials for the specialties they teach. His concern is that, in two years when the deadline looms, that shortages of teachers in speech, foreign languages, math, science and chemistry, will become critical.

New Assistant Superintendent Jarice Butterfield, the district's special education chief, revealed results of this year's survey of parents. Of 400 surveys sent out, the district received back 44. "It was the most positive feedback I've had in my time here," she said, noting that even topping a 10 percent response rate was an improvement.

Strengths of special education at OUSD, according to the survey results, were that parents felt they were part of their children's individual education plans, and that case managers were doing their jobs.

Weaknesses identified by the parents of special education students included comments that regular education teachers were not attending the individual education plan meetings. "I've been less than popular to tell them it's a professional responsibility," Butterfield said.
With 405 special education students now enrolled, "and with regular enrollment dropping, that sends a red flag to me," she said. It is also, said Unruhe, a testament to the quality of the program.

In a rare 4-1 vote, Smith voted against a board resolution urging the state to lower from 66 percent to 55 percent the majority needed to pass local parcel taxes. Smith said "all it accomplishes is to let the state off the hook" for education funding. "I don't think it serves the taxpayers well." She also said it fostered inequalities in education, because rich districts could more readily afford parcel taxes to pay for after-school programs, music education or other enhancements. "It's a slippery slope," she said.

Another resolution urged Sacramento lawmakers to come to pass a budget before it affected education. "It's causing harm to kids," Unruhe said. "Their (legislators') agenda is to have complete chaos, because it makes it easier to recall the governor."

Summer construction projects are proceeding according to plan, said Berube, who had line drawings of the Nordhoff High School locker room/gym project and the athletic field construction paid for by the $2 million wetlands grant. He said the gym would be done by the opening of school, while the locker rooms wouldn't be finished until October. "We have only nine weeks this summer. We have less and less time to do extensive construction."

The wetlands project, which will improve the chronically poor drainage from Nordhoff's baseball, track and soccer fields, while creating and restoring a natural wetlands in the adjoining Ojai Meadows Preserve, owned by the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, will begin mid-July and conclude in October.

A few glimmers of good news were scattered throughout the meeting. At the outset, Dr. Joan Smith, executive vice president of Ventura College, presented the district with a plaque of appreciation for its decision to allow the college to use district classrooms free of charge. Berube also got the board's OK to give professional growth credits to 16 classified staff members who participated in college courses, professional seminars, and job-related education. Maximum credit is $2,100.

The board also gave the go-ahead to advertise for contractors on a variety of projects paid for by recently passed Proposition 47, which brought the district's building fund to $14 million. Projects on the list include reroofings, restroom upgrades, drainage projects, and replacement of class bells and fire alarms.

Two policies on the release of student directory information, and the access given to students given military recruiters, both required by any school accepting federal money under the No Child Left Behind Act, was adopted. The policy was urged by peace activists concerned that military recruiters were given preferential treatment.

he board policies state military recruiters will be given the same access as other outside groups, and that high school students and parents will be given ample opportunity to opt out of releasing their information, and that "the high school will keep an accurate and updated list of students who wish to have their records withheld." The board's final action before removing to closed session was to pass a resolution urging that learning through community service become integrated into the regular curriculum.

"This meets the district's goals of helping to develop youth as contributing citizens and allows the opportunity for youth to be seen as resources in their community," the new policy reads.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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