School officials weigh options to offset funding losses
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Anticipating a $3-million budget shortage and possible layoffs during the 2008-09 school year, Moorpark Unified School District officials resolved on Tuesday to explore options to cover unfunded needs.

During an hourlong discussion school leaders contemplated two new ballot measures for Moorpark voters.

They suggested that an existing bond measure could be extended to pay for facility maintenance and technological upgrades. And to maintain programs and staffing levels in Moorpark schools, officials said, a new parcel tax may have to be considered.

"Nothing was intended as a proposal yet; it was just a discussion to see what the options are," said Larry Brown, assistant superintendent of business for MUSD.

Due to California's financial crisis, MUSD stands to lose critical personnel, Superintendent Ellen Smith said.

"There are some very large unfunded needs in the district. We have a very serious fiscal crisis so we need to find a way to raise funds," she said.

School district administrators won't know the extent of the cuts until the state budget is finalized at the end of June or even later, but they already know there will be impacts at the local level.

The parcel tax would be about $50 or $60 for individual property owners and would help schools take care of important personnel needs, Smith said.

"Keeping a resource officer on campus full time is important, especially given the recent events that occurred in this county," Smith said, referring to the Feb. 12 shooting of an eighth-grade boy at E.O. Green School in Oxnard.

Layoff concerns

Both certificated and noncertificated employees may lose their jobs. Since state law compels school districts to send discharge notices by March 15, trustees and administrators said they need to plan for the worst while they hope for the best.

"Certificated layoff notices must be addressed right away, even though we won't have definite word from the state about our 2008-09 budget status for quite some time," Smith said.

District administrators don't know how many people would be affected by possible lay-offs at this time.

"If you send out too many you upset a lot of people unnecessarily, but we have to be protective and keep options open to balance the budget," Brown said.

"It's not time to panic but it's time to plan because this is serious and the cuts will be painful," he said. As the second-largest employer in Moorpark, MUSD employs about 800 people.

"I lose sleep over the fact that jobs will be lost," said trustee Greg Barker. "We can't sit and wait. As leaders we have to make something happen to keep hope alive," he said.

As the discussion went on, trustees and school administrators noted they need to move swiftly if they're going to place the measures on the June 3 ballot. Although it is already too late to meet the 123 days' advance notice required by the county, the state requires only 90 days' advance notice prior to the election.

However, passing the measures won't be possible without effective promotion, said school trustees, who want to survey the community to develop a plan that people will support.

"The circumstances make it a self-selling idea," said trustee David Pollock. Current economic times are challenging for everyone, but quality schools benefit property values and Moorpark as a whole, he said.

"Wording is crucial," said Brown who suggested that the bond oversight committee, which monitors Bond Measure R expenditures could help show that the school district fulfills its commitment to voters.

The $33-million 25-year capital improvement Bond Measure R passed in March 2002. The money was used to make improvements at most schools and the district is now finishing up projects slated to be completed with those funds.

Bond Measure R funds were not sufficient to support capital improvements at the high school.

Extending Bond Measure R will enable the district to repair the 20year-old campus and fund classroom technology so students are prepared to enter the workforce.

The high school needs maintenance and upgrades to protect the district's assets, according to school officials.

An extension of the bond measure will not increase annual taxes of $43 per $100,000 of assessed property value, Brown said.

The board will meet again at 5 p.m. Wed., Feb. 20 to discuss the bond measure extension and parcel tax ideas further and to decide whether the measures should be placed on the June 3 ballot or the November ballot or should wait until next year.