CONEJO VALLEY : Schools May Face $2 Million in Cuts

The Conejo Valley Unified School District may have to make $2 million in cuts to balance its $74-million budget for the coming school year, officials said.

Exactly what would be cut will be determined this spring by Conejo Valley officials. School board members are scheduled to review proposed budget cuts on April 23 and to make a decision on May 14.

“It’s hard this year, because we have fewer programs,” Assistant Supt. Sarah Hart said.

At the school board meeting last week, board members reviewed the initial budget forecast and Supt. William R. Seaver told them the district could face an additional $1.5-million shortfall if the state cuts certain grants.

The school district is planning to send letters to 21 administrators and counselors notifying them that they may be reassigned to other jobs later in the year. School officials said they do not plan to send any such letters to teachers.

Last year, the school board cut $3.6 million from the district’s budget, resulting in the loss of 22 teaching positions and 66 janitors, clerks and other non-teaching employees.

Hart said the 1992-93 budget allows for a 0.29% cost-of-living increase from the state and a 6% raise to teachers in September and a 6% raise to classified employees in January, 1993.

Board members are scheduled to consider approving the forecast at their March 12 meeting.