GLENDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING PREVIEW

DISTRICT OF CHOICE

The board will discuss new legislation that would make the state’s “district of choice” provision permanent.

California’s Education Code allows students to attend schools outside their home school district as long as that district has established itself as a “district of choice.”

But that law is set to expire this year, a change that would require all students to attend schools within their districts of residence.

The legislation, Senate Bill 680, would solidify the “district of choice” provision and enable students to continue attending schools outside of their home districts.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Trustees will not vote during this discussion, but will talk about the potential impacts of the legislation on Glendale Unified.

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BUDGET UNCERTAINTY

The board is expected to adopt a budget for the 2009-10 academic year, despite the uncertainty of the state’s finances, which could result in billions of dollars in additional cuts to education.

State lawmakers are developing a plan to make up for a deficit that is expected to balloon to $24 billion by next year.

That plan is unlikely to include all of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposals for closing the budget gap, which would have left the district with a total deficit of $57.7 million by 2012 unless extensive measures are taken to cut costs starting this year, administrators say.

District officials have come up with a series of suggestions to shrink the budget and lower Glendale Unified’s obligations in an effort to reduce the compounded effects of an oversized annual budget.

Officials have suggested increasing class sizes, slashing spending on maintenance costs, eliminating teacher support staff positions and a possible across-the-board pay cut for employees.

Chief Business and Financial Officer Eva Rae Lueck will present the budget plan, although she anticipates the district’s financial outlook will change as lawmakers formulate their own spending plan.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Trustees are expected to approve the budget, but will likely have to revise their plan once a state spending proposal is in place.