Irvine Donors Saving Smaller Classes in 3, if Not 4, Grades

School officials in Irvine will learn today whether a three-month campaign can round up enough money to preserve small class sizes in all four of the earliest primary grades.

To help balance a $5.2-million budget deficit, the Irvine Unified School District’s Board of Education in January announced plans to pull out of the state-sponsored program, which limits class sizes to 20 students in kindergarten through third grade.

After hearing that the program was threatened, parents quickly rallied behind the district, organizing several campaigns that have raised more than $500,000 since February. That, coupled with another half-million dollars the district would get from the state to help fund the program, would be enough to spare class-size reduction in kindergarten through grade two, Supt. Patricia Clark White said.

This morning, the Irvine Public Schools Foundation was still collecting and counting donations in hopes of reinstating the program in third-grade classrooms. That would take an additional $425,000, said Tim Shaw, the foundation’s executive director. But at least $500,000 for the other classes has already been secured, he said.

Shaw said he is optimistic that the program will be spared in all four grades.

“It’s not unrealistic, but it’s going to take people honoring their pledges,” Shaw said. “So far, people have been good about that.... We’ve even had some people say, ‘Just double mine,’ or ‘Put in an extra 50 bucks.’”

It’s not the first time private donations have saved district programs. Two years ago, last-minute donations by the Irvine Co. and Donald Bren Foundation, totaling more than $2 million, saved art, music and science programs, which are also in jeopardy again.

Parent Linda Roberts hopes the foundation’s campaign succeeds. Her daughter will be in second grade in the fall. The Roberts family has been upset since the district decided to close its neighborhood school, Los Naranjos Elementary, which will save the district about $400,000 a year. Losing the intimacy of a small class would be a double blow.

“When the decision came down to increase class sizes, it was horrible,” Roberts said. “First we lost our school, now this.... It’s been a long year, and everybody’s tired--tired of fighting to keep our schools open, tired of trying to get parents to donate money to keep class-size reduction going, then to keep music and science.”

The money also means scores of jobs will be saved in the district. In March, 130 layoff notices were mailed to faculty. The board is expected to decide tonight whether to eliminate an additional 50 teaching positions that would no longer be necessary with larger classes, and will determine which programs will be restored.

“But if enough money is raised to continue with reduced class sizes, we will begin to reinstate teachers from the list,” White said.

The foundation also expects to collect enough money--roughly $300,000--to reinstate the district’s sixth-grade science program and art programs in grades three through six.

“But we can’t from year to year be relying on philanthropy,” Shaw said. “And despite what we’re going to be able to save, there are still going to be cuts. We are going to lose some nurses in the schools, counselors, some science and music teachers. This did not solve our budget crisis--it didn’t even come close.”

Irvine isn’t alone. Schools all over California are in financial straits, the result of a $12.5-billion shortfall in the state’s budget.

Later this month, Capistrano Unified School District officials will consider $6 million in cuts, including administrative layoffs, and delays in school construction and implementing new high school graduation requirements.

“But all this comes with the caveat that the state budget remains the same,” said Capistrano Unified spokesman David Smollar. “If the governor does something drastic in his revised budget, and the schools end up with substantially less, then the superintendent will have to go back to the budget advisory board.”

Saddleback Valley Unified, which faced a $1.5-million shortfall next year, has balanced the budget by sending layoff notices to 160 employees, including about 40 teachers, said William Manahan, assistant superintendent.

“We’ve done all the preliminary cuts to custodians and maintenance of the grounds--we’re at the bare bones,” Manahan said. “But next year, it’s going to affect the hands-on science and music programs in the first through third grades. We just don’t see any new revenue coming in.”

A group of Saddleback parents have rallied as well. Calling themselves Project Hope, the group has raised about $100,000 for the district. “But that’s a far cry from $1.5 million,” Manahan said.

In Irvine, several heavy hitters stepped up to the plate in recent months, including the city, which gave $100,000 to the foundation, and the Maruchan food company, which gave $50,000.