No Schools to Close in Pasadena : Budget: Cuts of $4 million mean that as many as 121 jobs will be dropped or left unfilled

As many as 121 staff positions will be eliminated or go unfilled--but no schools will be closed--under a $70.8-million budget for 1990-91 approved Tuesday by the Board of Education.

The cuts, including campus security, music teachers and school psychologists, slashed $4 million from the budget. They are the most severe school district officials could remember.

Although officials said no schools will be closed this fall, they are studying the feasibility of closing some schools and consolidating others in fall, 1991. The district staff expects to submit recommendations to the board by next spring, Supt. Philip Linscomb said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Linscomb expressed concern about a proposal by Gov. George Deukmejian to suspend Proposition 98, which mandates that the state set aside 40% of its General Fund for public education.

In Pasadena, that would mean the loss of $2.2 million in state funds, which would leave the district no alternative to closing schools, district financial consultant Mark Facer said.

“The suspension of Proposition 98 would be devastating,” Linscomb said. “It’s something that keeps us awake at night.”

The adopted budget is $3.4 million below last year’s, when the district made $638,000 in cuts but did not eliminate any positions.

Linscomb said the district does not yet know how many employees will be laid off. A number of the positions that will be cut are vacant.

The 1990-91 budget includes the loss of 19 campus security positions; one dean; two counselors; six positions in special education, including two psychologists; four health services jobs; eight library assistants; two music elementary school music teachers; 22 custodians; six locker room attendants at high school gyms, and seven maintenance workers.