Decision on Spring Sports Delayed

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified school board members have postponed a decision on whether to cancel competitive spring sports at the district’s three high schools.

Board members, searching for ways to shore up a shrinking budget reserve, instructed the district’s staff Monday to meet with boosters to see if they could raise $23,000 to help defray the costs of the sports.

But, the board said, it still might cancel the sports even if the money is raised, if the financially strapped district experiences any major revenue declines in coming weeks. The board will vote on the matter in early December.

The possibility that spring sports could be cut arose after board members requested further cuts in the district’s $33-million budget, to boost a projected 1.6% reserve. Board members maintain such a reserve is too low to meet unexpected expenses.

Cutting sports would save an estimated $85,000, enough to increase the reserve to 2%. Board members have already slashed $2 million from the budget and say they have nowhere else to turn.