City Schools May Add Fine Arts Funds

More money for fine arts programs and building maintenance might be included in the San Diego city school system’s $560-million budget for the coming fiscal year, Board of Education trustees said Tuesday.

However, the board might have to reduce spending in other areas, such as evaluation and testing of the system’s teachers.

At a meeting Tuesday, trustees mentioned fine arts programs, particularly music instruction and maintenance, as areas that need spending increases above the amount the board approved in a tentative budget last June.

Trustees also said several items they had planned to spend money on this year might not be needed.

The board met for the first time since Gov. George Deukmejian signed the final state budget earlier this month. Less state money than expected will require the district to cut more than $1 million from its June budget.

The board will meet again Thursday to juggle its priorities and move closer to adopting a final budget. By state law the school system must approve a final draft of a budget before Sept. 15.

Discussion about the fine arts programs began after several teachers and one student told trustees that more money is needed.

“Music is something that everyone can participate in,” said high school student Matt Smith. “It’s something that everybody needs. . . . It’s something that isn’t stressed enough in city schools.”

Trustee Shirley Weber apparently agreed. The board had budgeted $1.4 million for new equipment and programs in the earlier drafts of the budget, and Weber said some of that money should be spent on fine arts.

Trustee Ann Armstrong pointed out that the school system budgeted more money for high school athletics than it had for elementary school music programs. She asked if cuts could be made in the system’s athletic budget, but board President Kay Davis told Armstrong that the athletic department’s allowance is reasonable. Athletic programs help spur parental participation in the school system, Davis said.

“Like it or not, more parents come out for sporting events than music programs,” she said.

“They come out for music programs, too,” Armstrong responded. “There’s a segment of the community that really wants this.”

Instead of targeting athletic programs, trustees agreed to evaluate possible reductions in spending for items such as teacher evaluations and testing.