Drawn Out!

Here it is laid out on the table: The budget situation for Orange County schools stepping through the 2008-2009 year. Most of the schools in the county are sitting pretty, backed by a bustling industry and nourishing residential developments. The OC register pointed out a few districts that have not fared well over the last few years, whose situation only appears grimmer as time moves on. Here is a list of the four hardest hit districts, and exactly what they are facing……I’d like to make one more point considering the contrast in art education quality between Orange County Schools (which is directly proportional to the below cuts). Huntington Beach has the pleasure of furthering their art educational facilities by introducing a video/film program into their schools. A new digital music composition studio is also in the works… I am completely supportive of this initiative, but not ten miles away, districts are struggling to obtain even the simplest creative tools! This has all made me wonder… What is a community? Who draws the borders? Here are a few districts left out:

Capistrano Unified

Potential cuts:$25 million to $30 million, up from a previously announced $15 million to $20 million; district is optimistic that mid-year cuts won't have to be made.

Cuts the past two years: Just over 3 percent cut last year, representing $13 million. Cuts included teacher staffing, district-level and school-level managers, and administrative cuts.

Santa Ana Unified (Hello Again!?)

Potential cuts: Officials were already projecting a $10 million budget deficit for 2008-09 before the governor released his proposal. They have not yet determined how much more that deficit could grow.

Cuts the past two years: The district cut $15 million in 2006-07 and $21 million in 2007-08. The $15 million translates to approximately 3 percent of the general fund while the $21 million equates roughly to 4 percent.

Orange Unified

Potential cuts: The district could be facing cuts to the 2008-09 budget of around 5 percent, or more than $12 million, said Jon Archibald, assistant superintendent of business service. The cuts would likely mean layoffs in a district that already slashed positions at the district level, Archibald said. The district doesn't expect to make any mid-year cuts.

Cuts the past two years: The district has experienced declining enrollment. In the past two years, it cut the budget about 2 percent.

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified

Potential cuts: The district was already looking to reduce its budget by about $4 million. Those cuts would increase to $6 million to $7 million. District officials are hopeful that no mid-year cuts will be necessary.

Cuts the past two years: The district cut $3.1 million in 2006-07 and $2.3 million in 2007-08.