Elementary Music, Libraries, Specialists at Risk with $1.2 Million Budget Gap

About 50 parents, teachers and administrators met Monday night at Albany High to discuss a projected $1.2 million shortfall in the school district budget that could lead to some painful changes next fall.

Elementary library hours, the vocal music program and specialists who help with after-school tutoring and provide in-school relief for teachers could be on the chopping block. High schoolers, along with seventh and eighth graders, could drop down to a six-period day.

At the district level, the superintendent is recommending that the technology director position remain vacant; that school sites take over enrollment duties from the district's enrollment secretary; and that several cuts be made to facilities positions, district psychologists and a transportation clerk who handles special education student needs.

"We're having to look at, how do we continue to trim and still preserve a good education here in Albany?" said Superintendent Marla Stephenson. "When I make a recommendation for a cut, I try to make it as far away from kids as possible. But, at a certain point, you pay the price."

On the brighter side, she said, there are no class size changes proposed for the elementary schools; library services would still be available two days a week.

The school district might have to cut about 21 people from its roughly 351 employees for a $1.8 million savings, the superintendent said. Since the 2008-09 school year, the Albany Unified School District already has dropped about 38 positions to address funding shortfalls.

School officials and school board members had a budget forum Monday night focused on cuts at the district and elementary school levels; only two board members were able to participate because the meeting was not posted in accordance with the Brown Act, due to a clerical error.

There will be a second session Thursday focused on possible cuts at the middle and high schools. Whether the cuts actually take place will depend on what happens with the state budget, which may not be set for months. Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed flat funding for schools, but his proposal relies on the extension of tax measures that will not make it on the ballot, due to decisions by state lawmakers. The legislature still could decide to extend the measures, without voter approval, but whether this will happen remains unknown.

About 14 percent of the district budget comes from state funding, according to a pie chart presented Monday, along with another 57 percent described as "revenue limit," which is ADA funding or money per student from the state. Another 17 percent comes from parcel taxes; 7 percent from federal funding; and 5 percent from other local efforts, such as SchoolCARE, the Albany Education Fund and the Albany Music Fund.

Stephenson and Assistant Superintendent Laurie Harden went over the proposed cuts line by line, taking frequent questions from members of the public throughout the discussion.

Several parents spoke about proposed cuts to the music program.

"I'm surprised to see the visual and performing arts prep cut," said Penny Barthel, an Albany parent who runs the Albany Music Fund. "That allows us to have vocal music at the elementary schools.... In essence, the district would not have any (elementary-level) funding for vocal and instrumental music."

The Albany Music Fund already pays for instrumental programs at the elementary level.

"It had to come from somewhere," Stephenson said. "I couldn't see cutting PE any more, or library services any more."

Local parent Kris Perry also spoke out for music.

"People move to Albany because of the schools.... We have values that we want reflected in the budget," she said. "Music is a defining program that... does something to elevate the whole district.... (Music is) a program that brings people to this community. It's not retail. It's not the big houses."

Parent Alison Seevak asked about cuts to reading specialists and intervention programs for kids needing extra help.

"How will you address those kids' needs?" she said.

"That puts the burden right back in the classroom," the superintendent replied.

Parent Stuart Goose asked about the possibility of furloughs; the superintendent said it would take about eight days of furloughs to "break even." Several parents said furloughs wouldn't leave enough instruction time and could impact the children too much. The superintendent said she thought more program cuts should come before a furlough option.

Marin parent Holly White spoke about the cutback in library services, calling the library "the heart of the school."

"The loss of a librarian is scary and it's sad," she said, while looking over the proposed cuts prior to the meeting. "At least at our school, she's more than just a librarian. She's a teacher who teaches the love of books and how to use books. In a school of 500 kids, she knows what my son's interested in. When we go in, she says she's pulled aside a book just for him. You can't put a price on that."

Marin teacher Diane Meltzer said people need to take the budget problem seriously.

"I've been teaching for 35 years. I've never had so many students and so little help," she said, referring to classroom aides. "It's changing the program ... I have a lot of parent help, but it's not the same as having an aide who knows the children and knows their needs."

Many urged participation in statewide efforts to demand better funding for education.

Marin teacher Kerry Dunigan, vice president of the Albany Teachers Association, told parents about activities planned statewide in May, including a rally on Solano Avenue on May 11, and a "huge rally in San Francisco" on May 13. The events, called "State of Emergency," are organized by the California Teachers Association.

Holly White urged parents to look at a state PTA initiative called Cut$ Hurt Kids.

Marin teacher Chris Engemann said statewide efforts would be key to lasting changes.

"If you look statewide, there are more of us who are teachers and families, people who are vested in education, than we can imagine. We have been quiet on that level and haven't gotten politically involved," Engemann said.

Parent Nick Peterson said it's time to send a clear message to state legislators.

"I think we're all angry here," he said. "We'll buck up and we'll give more to these (local fundraising) organizations. And then we'll go and we'll tell these idiots (in Sacramento) that block the will of the people that they're not going to get our vote anymore."

Board President Pat Low thanked parents and teachers for their ideas, and encouraged them to write and call with suggestions about how to raise money, as the time to make decisions gets closer.

"We're desperate, so we're all open to suggestions," she said.

Superintendent Marla Stephenson will speak Tuesday, April 26, at the Marin PTA meeting at 7:30 p.m. Assistant Superintendent Laurie Harden will speak to the Cornell PTA on May 12. District officials also will be speaking to the Ocean View PTA, and local fundraising groups, along with the public budget discussion Thursday regarding funding for the middle and high schools.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.