SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : School Board Mulls Budget Cut Ideas

A capacity crowd of more than 150 attended this week’s Capistrano Unified School District board meeting to hear Supt. James Fleming outline a list of cuts proposed to close a projected $8.9-million shortfall in next year’s budget.

During the lengthy workshop, trustees discussed a variety of possible cuts and fee increases that may be needed if the district receives less money from the state than anticipated.

Fleming said the uncertainty of state funding has caused the district to adopt “the most conservative position that we possibly can” during the preliminary stages of forming their 1992-93 budget, which will be given final approval in June.

“We are caught in a vise,” Fleming said. “Maybe all of those people in Sacramento will wake up and realize that education is an important investment. However, they may not, and we need to prepare for that.”

Trustees took no formal action during the meeting, but indicated that they would rather make cuts in some areas than approve a proposed increase in class sizes.

“An increase in class size is something I personally don’t want to see,” said trustee Marlene Draper. “It makes it much more difficult on teachers in the classroom and I think we need to focus on the students in the classroom.”

Ric Stephenson, president of the district’s teacher’s union, also spoke out against the proposal.

“As class size increases, the quality of education diminishes,” Stephenson said. “Class size is where the money is, but it’s also where the education occurs.”

Trustees also directed district staff to move forward with developing a system in which parents would pay for busing. A committee will be formed to study the proposal.

“I think it’s a burden on people during hard economic times, but it is important that we look at this as a possible source of revenue,” Draper said.

The board also discussed proposals to reduce the number of assistant principals at elementary schools and vice principals at high schools, and to eliminate the district’s music program for kindergarten through third grade.

Last year, the district adopted a $114-million budget that included about $3 million in cuts and resulted in the elimination of some programs and the raising of the district’s average class size by one.

The board is scheduled to adopt a final 1992-93 budget on June 15 after a public hearing.