CALABASAS : Busing Fees May Rise to Close Budget Gap

The Las Virgenes Unified School District is considering increasing busing fees next year and cutting the amount it spends on high-technology education to help close a $400,000 budget gap, officials said.

District staff has recommended increasing busing fees by $10 a semester, which would raise $40,000, officials said. Students now pay $200 a semester round-trip for busing, according to Laidlaw Transit Inc., which provides the service.

Also proposed is a 3% increase in rental fees for district facilities. That, officials said, would raise an additional $5,000.

The cuts in high-technology education would come in the third year of a three-year program to acquire new equipment, district officials said.

The Board of Education will discuss the proposal at its 6 p.m. meeting June 13 at the district office, 4111 N. Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas.

District officials blame the deficit on flat enrollments. “We were 120 students short of what we expected” for next year, said Donald Zimring, the district’s assistant superintendent of business services. “We expected to grow by 200 youngsters.”

The $400,000 figure, Zimring said, is based on what the district expected to receive from the state, which doles out funds on a per-student basis. The district, he said, expecting substantial growth in enrollment, hired extra personnel, catching itself in a financial bind.

District staff also has proposed transferring money from specially funded programs, such as adult education and instructional materials, to programs that have deficits. To cut costs meanwhile, Zimring said, the district has delayed purchases on some capital improvement items.

When district officials drew up the proposed cuts, they chose items that would not directly impact educational programs, officials said.

Ron Bara, a parent of two boys at Lindero Canyon Middle School, said the district needs to be more specific about cuts. “Adult education and instructional materials--what do they mean by that?” he said. “Too often, it’s discussed in generalities.”

He added: “The cuts are made, and you find out the specifics after the fact.”

Meanwhile, he said, parents and district officials should work together to obtain more donations of educational materials and equipment.

“We could tap into the resources right in the community,” he said. “Ask businesses with kids in schools to contribute.”

For example, he said, computer stores could donate equipment, or provide discounts for services.

Adrian Stern, a parent who has been active in raising funds for technology programs, said he supports the district’s proposed cuts.

“I know that there are some very tough choices and everybody is going to have to share in the burden,” he said.