School District Chief Says Cutting Can’t Be Avoided

• New Tax Hike Covers Half of Deficit

BY SUZANNE GULDIMANN

Tim Cuneo, superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, urged the community to “stay positive” at a recent district budget presentation at Malibu High School, but only the most sanguine could view the state’s $21.5 billion-plus deficit financial forecast with optimism.
According to Cuneo, 71 percent of school funding comes from Sacramento. The district’s $12 million deficit mirrors the state’s $20 billion deficit, meaning that SMMUSD’s state funding has dropped from $5722 per student in 2008-2009 to $5029 in 2009-10.
Cuneo explained the measures that the district has already taken, including cuts of $4.5 million in 2009-10, increasing class size, reorganizing and consolidating Samohi’s house system, cutting contracts and attempting to reduce energy and travel costs.
According to Cuneo, other measures being discussed include furlough days for employees, additional increases in class size and reductions in personnel, including district office staff and services, as well as teachers, counselors, advisors, outreach specialists, library staff, reading specialists, nursing staff, and security officers.
Other budget cuts could include reducing or eliminate programs, including elementary music and summer school programs.
The centerpiece of the district’s budget strategy is a new parcel tax. The board of education has already approved holding a special election for the parcel tax measure on May 25.
Although residents in the district have traditionally supported parcel tax measures in the past, the May 25 mail-in election, which will cost the district $360,000, comes at a time when Santa Monica, where the vast majority of district voters live, faces record high foreclosure rates and significant job loss.
The district sees the risk as necessary for the survival of key programs, and is counting on success, despite what has been described as “tepid”or “lukewarm” response to parcel tax phone polls.
Cuneo, however, has cautioned that the tax, if passed, would cover only about half the district deficit, and additional cuts would still have to be made. He also expressed concern that once cut, programs may be difficult to reestablish.
“The budget crisis is real,” Cuneo stated, indicating that the district, which serves 11,607 students, may be forced to eliminate up to 90 certificated staff—teachers, counselors, nurses, and administrators and 30 classified staff—custodians, maintenance, library staff, security and other classifications. Class size, already increased this year, would rise still higher for all grade levels.
Cuneo asked that the community stay informed about the ballot measure, attend budget workshops, follow state budget news and get involved.
Malibuites who had their minds on the immediate crisis of sandbags, raising water and the thunderstorm overhead and not on the school budget that evening, can read more about the state of the district’s budget online.
The PowerPoint presentation that accompanied Cuneo’s talk is available at www.smmusd.org