Central : TUSTIN : School Trustees to Develop a ‘Crisis Budget’

Trustees of the Tustin Unified School District will meet Friday ( to develop a “crisis budget” while the school district’s $12.8-million investment in the troubled Orange County investment pool remains frozen.

Jane Bauer, who was elected school board president this week, said Tuesday that trustees also will consider meeting ways to cut costs, including identifying projects that may be put on hold. The meeting will begin at 3:45 p.m.

“We’ll decide on a game plan,” said Bauer. “There’s a lot of variables, but we have to develop an operating budget to get us by.”

Bauer, who is returning to her third term on the five-member board, said there is no immediate threat to the school district’s ability to pay teachers salaries and other bills. But she said that the staff has been busy looking into the financial mess, “taking time away from the business of education.”

Sworn in with Bauer this week were Jonathan W. Abelove, who was chosen vice president and clerk, and Gail Michelsen. Bauer and Abelove will serve for four years while Michelsen will serve for two years.

Bauer, a tax attorney, was first elected in 1985. She was president in 1989 and 1991. Abelove is a business owner and Michelsen is a computer products manager. They will join Merlin L. Henry Jr. and Todd Ferguson on the school board.