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The SRVUSD Board of Education is set to meet this week for its annual organizational meeting, during which district staff will provide a presentation on a proposed $30,883,729 budget reduction package that is set for a vote in the new year.
After the board swears in the two incumbent trustees who have been elected to additional terms in last month’s election and selects a new president for the coming year, district staff and trustees are set to hold a workshop discussion on the proposed budget reduction plan that Superintendent CJ Cammack shared with parents and caregivers last week.
“I understand the gravity of these cuts and the potential impact on our students, staff, and programs,” Cammack said in the Dec. 13 announcement from the district. “It is with deep regret that I make such deep and wide-ranging recommendations for budget reductions.”
“However, they are essential to preserve the core mission of our district and provide a quality education for all students,” he continued. “I remain committed to a transparent and collaborative process as we move forward.”
Proposed cuts to teaching staff represented by SRVEA accounts for 60.13% of the overall package for a savings of $18,570,695, with reduced spending on CSEA represented staff accounting for 10.14% of the total cuts. Reductions to spending on SEIU staff accounts for 5.51% of the proposed plan.
In the presentation prepared for the upcoming meeting, Cammack noted that proposed cuts to unionized employees remain subject to union negotiations.
“Several of the proposed reductions will necessitate negotiations with our labor unions, as required by law,” district staff wrote in the presentation prepared for the upcoming meeting. “SRVUSD is committed to engaging in productive discussions with our labor partners and remains open to exploring additional ideas to address the budget deficit effectively. Together, we can work toward solutions that support the district’s financial health while prioritizing the needs of our students and staff.”
In addition to cuts to union represented personnel, 9.24% of the proposed budget cuts consist of a decrease in spending on management for a savings of $2,852,996. An additional $4,626,959 in cuts are proposed for programs throughout the district, which accounts for 14.98% of the overall reductions in the proposed plan.
While the proposed cuts exceed the $24 million that the district committed to in the current year’s budgeting process, financial challenges are expected to be ongoing, with additional cuts on the horizon in the coming years.
The board is set to begin discussions on the proposed spending cuts at 6 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 19). The agenda is available here.
