SANTA ANA : Shortening School Day to Be Considered

Based on dismal budget forecasts from the state, the Santa Ana Unified School District board of trustees tonight will consider shortening the school day for intermediate students to save money.

District officials expect a $4.4-million budget shortfall for the 1992-93 school year, even after approving $9.1 million in cuts in March.

Supt. Rudy M. Castruita announced Monday that the poor economy has caused unanticipated losses of income from the state and other sources, and has left the district’s $4-million reserve with a $400,000 deficit.

Those reductions are expected to include $1.6 million for reimbursement for spending on special education, and $900,000 in supplemental grants, Castruita said. Also, under the state’s new student attendance accounting system, the district will lose another $1.5 million in reimbursement next year.

Castruita also warned that the continuing state budget crisis could result in a $2.3-billion cut to education, which would cost Santa Ana Unified $10 million in addition to all of its other cuts.

To help make up for the lost income, the district will consider reducing the number of classes per day for intermediate students from seven to six. Under the proposed plan, which would save about $1.9 million, fluent English-speaking students would lose one language class, and students who speak limited English would lose one elective class.