School Board to Meet to Discuss Budget Woes

With the state's budget in flux and tension mounting over potential cuts, including teacher lay-offs, the Culver City Board of Education is holding a special meeting Tuesday, April 12, to discuss the district's budget woes and take comments from the public.

"Tomorrow is an open forum for people to say, 'Have you considered this?'" said Scott Zeidman, president of the board.

The problem, he added, is that there really isn't much the district can cut.

"There's nothing left to cut," he said. "These are all fatal cuts, but some are less fatal? I mean, it's awful."

Even more frustrating is that the district is considering the cuts without knowing whether they'll even be necessary. Both Zeidman and said that they have yet to receive any final figures yet from the state as to how much money the district will get from the state.

"We have to cut knowing full well that whatever [state officials] told us will change," Zeidman said, complaining that state officials continue to give the board and district contradictory information one day to the next.

In addition, Jaffe pointed out that they still don't know whether students who live in the Los Angeles Unified School District, but who attend Culver City schools, will allowed to return.

"We have to look and see if they release the permit students," Jaffe said.

According to her, upwards of 25 percent of CCUSD students actually live in LAUSD territory. With the disbursement of state funds dependent on the number of students enrolled, the loss of the permit students could have a serious impact on the budget.

Culver City Federation of Teachers President David Mielke said that he thinks there is room for cutting, but on the administrative side of the district.

"Before you cut 19 teachers and cut [school] days from kids, how about if you make administrative cuts?" he said, referring to the 19 teachers who recently received lay-off notices, although some may be re-hired should the budget allow for it.

Potential cuts, Mielke said could come from the school administrators working only 10 months, as the teachers do, instead of the current 12, as well as further reductions in the administrative staff.

Board members and Jaffe have disagreed, particularly at an acrimonious Board Meeting on March 22. 

Tuesday's meeting will be held at the District Office Board Room, 4034 Irving Place, Culver City at 4:45 p.m. You can click here for the agenda.