TUSTIN : Schools Boost Class Sizes, Lunch Prices

The Tustin Unified School District’s 1992-93 budget will include increases in class sizes and lunch prices, approved as a part of cost-cutting to offset projected losses in state funding.

The final spending plan, passed this week, includes cost-cutting measures that total $450,000 and were originally part of a contingency plan in the final 1992-93 budget due Aug. 9. The district was instructed by the county to devise a $1-million contingency plan that would go into effect if the state decides to do much of its budget-balancing by siphoning money from public school systems.

“If any more needs to be reduced, we will look into other areas of the contingency plan,” said Paul Fisher, assistant superintendent of business services. District officials spent the last two weeks devising the contingency plan, which totals more than $1.9 million in spending reductions.

“Our feelings were that we have reduced our reserves so far that it would be wise to have (the $450,000 reduction) in there so if it gets worse next year, we are that much ahead,” said board member Barbara Benson.

The latest cuts will increase average class size in the district by one, to 29 students per class. By increasing average class size, the district will eliminate the need to hire eight new teachers, saving $280,000.

And beginning this fall, students will have to pay 30 cents more for a school cafeteria tray lunch and 10% more for a la carte items. The district will save about $110,000 by increasing lunch prices.

Board members also rescinded a previous decision to spend 10% more on instructional aides; that move will save $43,000. The district will save another $14,000 by eliminating two class periods from the special education work experience program.

So far, Tustin Unified has managed to avoid employee layoffs. However, a hiring freeze is in effect, and layoffs may be unavoidable if the district is forced to make more cuts, Supt. David L. Andrews said.

Last month the school board voted to begin charging parents for student transportation and eliminated some remedial education programs to help balance the budget.

Other cuts that the board may be forced to make include eliminating middle school sports programs, high school counselors and elementary-school music-instruction programs.