Board to Review Fiscal Effects of Class Cuts

This year’s effort to cut class sizes to 20 students could seriously drain the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s account in future years, projected figures released Monday show.

At a special meeting tonight, the board will review a study showing how much it will cost the district to limit primary grades to a maximum of 20 students.

The statewide reduction movement is driven by a $771-million bill that promises to pay schools $650 per student in primary grades where classes are limited to 20 pupils by February.

But Newport-Mesa officials said they are cautious about this widely hailed program, saying state funding will not be enough for districts to survive in following years.

“The program is costing districts statewide a considerable amount of money,” said Supt. Mac Bernd. “It’s also a heroic effort by the state, but I do have concerns of our ability to sustain it, especially if we expand it to another grade level.”

Paring first- and second-grade classes will cost the district about $3.1 million this year. The state program is expected to cover about 65% of that cost.

Bernd said a continual loss of $1.1 million in future years could seriously hurt the district’s $90-million annual budget. The fiscal situation would worsen if the board decides to expand the program to another grade level. But parents have been pressuring the district to lower class sizes at other grade levels.