Conejo Valley : Forums to Explain School Budget Woes

Conejo Valley school officials, who face a $3.8-million deficit, have scheduled four meetings to explain their financial woes to area parents.

“We want to let them know where we are and what we’re planning,” Conejo Valley Unified School District Supt. William R. Seaver said.

In the worst case, nearly 100 positions would be lost throughout the district, Seaver said.

School officials have drafted a $68.5-million budget for the 1991-92 school year. It accounts for Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposal to eliminate a cost-of-living allowance, decreased California Lottery receipts and a $574,473 property tax collection bill from the county.

Two school psychologists have been notified that they will lose their jobs. Several administrators and counselors have also been notified that they will be reassigned or laid off after the current school year. And some of the district’s 30 temporary teachers might not be rehired, Seaver said.

Further cuts are expected among the district’s classified workers, including secretaries, custodians and maintenance and food service workers.

District staff members will give their suggested recommendations for budget cuts to the school board in late April, and the board plans to vote on the cuts in early May.

The meetings are scheduled Monday at Sequoia Intermediate School, 2855 Borchard Road, Newbury Park; Wednesday at Redwood Intermediate School, 233 W. Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks; April 8 at Los Cerritos Intermediate School, 2100 E. Avenida de las Flores, Thousand Oaks, and April 9 at Colina Intermediate School, 1500 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. All meetings will start at 7 p.m.