SANTA PAULA : Educators Propose Cutting $273,000

In an effort to keep their district financially solvent, Santa Paula Union High School District administrators have proposed slashing more than $273,000 in jobs and instructional programs for the next school year, bringing next year’s proposed cuts to more than $540,000.

More than 100 people crowded the small school board meeting room on Wednesday to express their frustration with the cuts, which district officials blamed on a $232,000 shortfall of state money.

Among the $273,000 in proposed cuts are seven full-time classified staff positions totaling $90,000, including the plant supervisor and computer lab technician. Other cuts include a $38,000 reduction in instructional materials for students, the suspension of the computer lab, and the end to heating the swimming pool from September to March.

Last month, the district began to eliminate a $540,000 deficit by cutting six teaching and one counseling positions for next year in an effort to save nearly $250,000. The district has 57 teachers.

“We have already significantly damaged our instructional program next year,” District Supt. Caroline Erie said. “It is not an easy task. We have cut and pared and trimmed everything we can think of.”

The most vocal protest of the cuts came Wednesday night from the Future Farmers of America group and its supporters, who criticized the district’s recommendation to cut agriculture teacher Bob Young’s summer stipend of $8,700.

A petition with 493 signatures was presented to the board complaining that the cuts would not allow Young to supervise agriculture students at this summer’s Ventura County Fair, action that would prevent the students from entering the competitions, FFA supporters said. Some students said that not participating in the fair would hurt them financially.

“I have about $2,000 invested in a steer right now,” 14-year-old FFA member Scott Reeder told the board. “If the summer program is canceled, I can’t take my steer to the fair. That means I’m in the hole $2,000 and I’ve got a 1,000-pound steer on my hands.”

Other protests came from Santa Paula High School coaches, who contended that any coaching cuts in tennis or cross-country running would eliminate their programs.

One swimming coach warned that reduction of swimming pool operation could lead to public frustration, since it is the only public pool in the city.

Erie stressed during the meeting that the board will take no action on the proposed cuts until June 12, with final approval of the budget June 28.