>Union Democrat | Sonora News, Sports, & Weather, Angels Camp, Twain Harte, Jamestown

School districts across Tuolumne and Calaveras counties are preparing to cut millions from their budgets, not waiting for a federal bailout or state budget solution.

Sonora Elementary is projecting about $500,000 to $600,000 in cuts over 18 months, said Superintendent Margie Bulkin.

The district is hoping to do all reductions in the next school year.

“We’re looking at reasonable reductions ... (we’re) looking at how to cut costs everywhere,” Bulkin said. “We think we can make it. Not to say there won’t be challenging moments.”

Curtis Creek School District must trim $300,000 from its 2009-10 budget.

The Belleview School District could lose $32,000 in revenue this school year and another $16,000 to $17,000, said Superintendent John Pendley.

Over a two-year period, Columbia Elementary will lose $220,000 in revenue, said Julie Barrington, chief business official. The district expects to know more details in the next couple weeks. At an education finance Webcast Thursday night, Barrington heard it is almost the worst budget outlook year since the Depression.

“The next couple weeks should be pivotal,” Barrington said.

Summerville High will cut $700,000, $324,000 of which will be in the remainder of this school year.

“It’s going to cut across all the areas of the school,” said Superintendent John Keiter.

Twain Harte-Long Barn Union School District will have smaller cuts.

“At this point, we don’t think we’re going to have to make any cuts this year,” Keiter said. “But we’re going to have to find $100,000 next year.”

Cuts in Basic Aid — property-tax funded districts — will be less than in districts relying entirely on state funding.

Calaveras Unified is taking the largest hit among districts in the two counties – $1.5 million.

“We’re trying to save as many jobs as possible,” said Mike Merrill, assistant superintendent of business services.

The district will lose 5.5 teaching positions through attrition.

“Things we’ll just absorb,” Merrill said.

Some layoffs are also possible for classified staff — clerical, transportation and maintenance workers — but it is because of the district’s continued declining enrollment. The district has tried to budget conservatively in the last few years, which has allowed it to keep all programs, though some may be scaled back, Merrill said.

Bret Harte High School District in Angels Camp is holding its expenditures flat, said Superintendent Mike Chimente. They expect two teachers will retire, and those positions will not be backfilled.
 

The Vallecito Union School District took a $100,000 hit in property taxes this year, said Superintendent Glenn Sewell. The district will also budget for a $100,000 cut next year.

During the 2008-2009 school year, the district lost 7 percent in categorical funding — money earmarked for specific programs — and expects a 4 percent decrease next year, Sewell said.

Because of declining enrollment, the categorical funds decreases could double, he said. Depending on what is detailed in the federal Stimulus Package, money could go into Title I, Special Education and construction, Sewell said.