IRVINE : School Board Agenda Returns to Routine Tonight

While recent school board meetings have proved an agonizing experience in targeting programs and personnel for budget cuts, Irvine Unified School District trustees tonight will be planning for happier days with discussions on naming two planned schools, reviving a $10-million fund-raising program and creating a task force to build support for high school athletics.

The district has sent notices of potential layoffs to 30 administrators and 120 temporary teachers, and has identified $3 million in cuts from next school year’s $100-million budget.

Deputy Supt. Paul Reed said it is too soon to gauge what effect the recovery plan crafted by the county’s creditors committee will have on potential budget cuts. The district continues to plan for a worst-case loss of about $10.7 million from $107 million on deposit in the county pool.

School board members at tonight’s 7:30 meeting will consider establishing a task force to study the feasibility of a fee-based high school athletics program operated in conjunction with the city. The plan could save the district about $1 million a year and provide guaranteed funding for sports programs. The City Council approved participation in the task force last week.

The school board also will vote on reviving the Foundations for the Future fund-raising program, planned to raise $10 million to build a districtwide computer network. The program was suspended after the county bankruptcy.

Trustees are also expected to ask community members to suggest names for a planned elementary school in Westpark Village and a high school in north Irvine.