Some of the initial estimated $6.5 million 2009/10 budget deficit has been whittled down by going from year round schedules back to the traditional schedule, closing Crane School’s full day kindergarten, and approving $2 million worth a employee salary and benefit cuts.
The employee salary and benefit cut agreement was approved at Tuesday night’s TUSD Board Meeting. The agreement also allowed the TUSD Board of Trustees to take pink slip notices back and not layoff any of the 126 teachers or administrators who received them.
The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees discussed a list of 18 proposed cuts to work on addressing the rest of the estimated $3.4 million deficit for the 2009/10 budget beginning on July 1, 2009.
There was no action taken on on the proposed cuts at Tuesday’s meeting. The Board is expected to vote on the proposed cuts on April 21st.
Another hot button issue was in relation to a possible bond to remodel Turlock High School’s stadium and build one for Pitman High School. The bond would be issued for $14 million. A community survey was conducted to see if there’s enough support for the bond. TUSD Superintendent Sonny Da Marto reported that the support did not exceed the needed 55 percent to pass. Because passing the bond for stadium purposes will be a tough to pass at anytime, Da Marto suggested that the Board wait for better economic times as they might only get one shot at passing the bond.
