FUSD Votes to Adopt $702 Million Budget

By Pablo Lopez, The Fresno Bee, Calif.

Jun. 19–Three years ago, the Fresno Unified School District was on the verge of a state takeover because the district’s finances were in a mess.

Wednesday night, trustees voted unanimously to adopt a nearly $702 million budget that protects student academic programs, maintains a healthy financial reserve, emphasizes campus safety and maintains music, arts and after-school sports next school year.

Teachers also will keep their jobs and have additional money for instructional materials, but there will be no salary raises for employees, and some services from the district’s central office will be affected.

Trustees thanked Superintendent Michael Hanson and his administrative staff for keeping the district solvent when other school districts are struggling because of the state’s budget crisis. “We will not only weather the storm, but we have learned to dance in the rain,” trustee Valerie Davis said.

The 2008-09 budget total is nearly identical to last year’s. The budget includes the general fund, which the district has control over, and state and federal money that is restricted to certain programs.

Ruth Quinto, the district’s chief financial officer, said the district’s general fund revenues next school year should be $430 million, while expenses should be $437 million. The district will make up some of the difference by tapping into its reserves, which are expected to decrease from $39 million to $32 million, Quinto said.

For the 2007-08 school year, general fund revenues were $445 million and expenses were $439 million. Revenues were higher because the state wasn’t facing a budget crisis last year. A $15.2 billion projected deficit in the 2008-09 state budget has severely affected education, district officials said.

The cuts in the district’s central office will mean a reduction in travel, training and office supplies, she said. There also will be a reduction in the teaching force because of declining enrollment, but there are no planned layoffs. The district anticipates some employees will retire or leave to work in another district, she said.

Some of the budget’s highlights:

Elementary schools: $15.3 million for such things as intensive reading teachers in grades four through six; instructional coaches for math and English teachers; noontime assistants; and peer mediation and administrative support staff for Title 1 campuses.

Middle schools: $11.5 million for such things as intensive English and math teachers; on-campus suspension program; case managers; learning coordinators; instructional coaches; campus culture personnel; and counselors.

High schools: $9 million for such things as English and math teachers in ninth-grade class-size reduction classrooms; counselors; instructional coaches; activity directors; and on-campus suspension program and police officers.

District officials also plan to spend $1.8 million in reserves to fund safety programs for the lowest-performing schools. The state plans to reduce funding to the district for arts and music by $369,354, but Fresno Unified plans to pick up the tab to support magnet and elementary music programs, Quinto said.

The reporter can be reached at plopez@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6434.

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