THOUSAND OAKS : School Officials Propose Budget Cuts

Thousand Oaks school officials on Friday recommended cutting the number of high school counselors, shortening the work year for support staff and giving managers a five-day furlough in a $2.1-million package of cost-saving measures for the coming school year.

But the budget reductions scheduled for review next Thursday by the Conejo Valley Unified School District board did not include negotiable items such as teacher salaries and benefits.

Talks on a new three-year teachers’ contract also will focus on issues such as staffing ratios and class sizes. The first negotiating session is scheduled for next week, officials said.

State law requires the district to pass a balanced budget by June 30, which is the date the teachers’ contract expires, said Supt. Bill Seaver.

But even if all the proposed cuts are adopted by the board at its May 13 meeting, the district still would seek lower pay or benefits from teachers, Seaver said.

Teachers have asked for a cost-of-living pay increase and maintenance of existing benefits.

“We’re going to need a reduction in our costs over the long term, and that means health benefits and salaries,” Seaver said.

The list released Friday outlines cuts across-the-board, including classroom supplies, library assistants and extra teachers to help with reading instruction one-on-one and in small groups.

At the four high schools, a total of 2.8 counselors would be reassigned. Most clerical and maintenance workers would go from a full-year work schedule to 11 1/2 months, while administrators and managers would lose five working days.