$56-Million Spending Plan for Glendale Schools : Budget Calls for 6th Period in Junior High

The Glendale Unified School District Board of Education this week got its first look at next year’s proposed budget, a $56-million spending plan that calls for the return of the sixth period for all junior high school students.

The sixth period was eliminated for seventh- through ninth-graders four years ago during budget tightening.

Parents have strongly backed its return, and during last month’s school board election it was one of the major concerns, with all the candidates calling for its reinstatement. District officials had argued that decreased state funding prevented them from reinstating the extra class time.

The period was returned to ninth-graders two years ago. This is the first time the district staff has recommended that seventh- and eighth-graders also be given the extra time for another elective class.

Would Cost $580,000

Reinstating the sixth period to the four junior high schools would cost the district about $580,000 a year, Supt. Robert Sanchis said. He has proposed that the money come from a delay in purchasing and replacing most equipment, such as typewriters, lawn mowers and computers.

However, Sanchis said the budget for equipment should be the first item restored when the district begins receiving money generated by the state lottery. Lottery income, although expected during the next school year, was not included in the budget because district officials do not know when the lottery might start and how much money it might bring in. Initial projections show that Glendale will receive about $1.2 million from the state lottery next year, Sanchis said.

The proposed budget also calls for the addition of a full-time principal for Muir Elementary School in southern Glendale.

Logical Staffing Change

Enrollment at Muir has risen 18% since 1981, to 488 students, and, Sanchis said, “It’s logical that we make the position full time.” A single principal now administers Muir and nearby Cerritos Elementary School.

The proposed budget does not call for a full-time principal at Cerritos, and the post probably will be filled on a half-time basis by another principal in the district, district spokesman Vic Pallos said.

The proposed Glendale school budget is based on Gov. George Deukmejian’s proposed public school budget, which provides a 10.5% increase over this year’s budget.

Sanchis told the board Tuesday that the increase is misleading because much of the money must go toward implementation of state-mandated programs, such as the mentor teacher program and the lengthened school year that went into effect in September. Also, Deukmejian has included projected lottery funds in his budget, Sanchis said.

Projected Increase

The Legislature is expected to adopt the state budget by June 30, and Sanchis said the actual increase for schools in Glendale is anticipated at 4.5% to 4.9%.

The proposed Glendale school budget includes about $2.6 million in carry-over money from this year, said Wayland Parsons, district superintendent of administration. In addition, next year’s proposed budget keeps the district’s emergency reserve fund at $300,000.

The 1985-86 school budget will go through an intensive review, including public hearings, before its adoption in late August.

On June 18, board members will schedule a public hearing and, by July 1, the district must file its tentative budget with the county superintendent of public schools. County officials will review the budget and return it to the district with their recommendations. The district will then schedule another public hearing before adopting the budget.