Today is Saturday, February 11, 2012
Today is Saturday, February 11, 2012
In addition to maintaining the $1.2 million it cut for the 2009-2010 school year, the Mountain View-Los Altos (MVLA) district needs to cut $1.6 million for the 2010-2011 school year.
The district’s Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) compiled a list of possible reduction measures at the school and at district levels. Such reductions, due to restrictions in state and local funding, would be in effect the upcoming school year if implemented. Superintendent Dr. Barry Groves said that the uncertainty of state funding may render additional cuts necessary.
“We’re trying to get things that will have the least impact or shortest long-term effect on kids,” Groves said.
The BAC founded its cut proposals on two principles: First, it tries to do the best for the students, and second, it tries to honor the work the district employees have done. After taking the BAC’s recommendations into consideration, Groves made his own recommendation to the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, April 6. The Board will vote on a final budget in June.
According to Principal Wynne Satterwhite, the school will also be making changes at the site level to plan for budget cuts.
Incoming freshmen will no longer be able to enroll in art classes at the beginning of next year. The administration’s decision to cut back on the Art Department was made after examining past student scores on the Studio Art AP exam, according to Department Head Christine An.
“It’s just very unfortunate that we won’t be able to offer the best program,” An said. “By only offering art classes starting sophomore year, we are basically setting them up for failure.”
Courses previously offered through Foothill College—including Mandarin, Sports Medicine and Digital Photography—are “in jeopardy” of being cut next year, according to Groves. Foothill classes require enrollment of at least 30 students in order to be offered at LAHS, and LAHS has not received enough sign-ups.
Groves and Satterwhite said that Foothill will also have to cut around 1,000 class sections next year, so negotiations will still be necessary even if enough students enroll.
Satterwhite said that Mandarin classes, which were offered at the school this year, will not be an option next year. The school is looking into ways to offer the course online.
Satterwhite said she also has “bad vibes” about the availability of Sports Medicine.
According to Groves, the MVLA district anticipates cuts to California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) classes. Satterwhite said it is difficult to plan because the number of students who will need CAHSEE assistance is unknown.
“[Even if the classes are cut,] we will figure out a way to get students through the CAHSEE one way or another,” Satterwhite said.
Additionally, Groves said that next year students may experience more difficulty in switching their schedules after enrollment.
According to Groves, the cuts at the district level will likely include those to instructional materials as well.
“Everybody will still be able to have a textbook,” Groves said. “They just may not get [a new one] as soon.”
The BAC hopes that some of this money will be reimbursed with the passing of Measure A, which would provide classrooms with energy-efficient technology among other improvements. Money in energy savings would go toward further accomodations for the influx of increasingly larger future classes.
