daily californian logo

BERKELEY'S NEWS • JUNE 03, 2023

Apply to The Daily Californian!

Berkeley to cut $2 million in public school funding, build teacher housing

article image

KAVYA NARENDRA BABU | STAFF

SUPPORT OUR NONPROFIT NEWSROOM

We're an independent student-run newspaper, and need your support to maintain our coverage.

FEBRUARY 07, 2019

Facing financial difficulties, the Berkeley Unified School District, or BUSD, intends to cut $2 million from its 2019-20 budget, prompting the board to deliberate over exactly how to tighten its belt at its regular meeting Wednesday.

Assistant Superintendent Pauline Follansbee and Associate Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi joined the board to discuss the cuts and presented the superintendent’s proposed reductions. If the recommendation presented were approved without any changes, it would constitute a budget reduction of $2,018,763. The district already reduced ongoing spending by almost $1.8 million last year.

“To say the least, (the board directors) understand how difficult this task has been … We have heard the passion and concern of this community,” said Interim BUSD Board President Beatriz Leyva-Cutler. “However, we all understand that cuts have to be made in the interest of our district.”

The proposed cuts range from eliminating vacant positions like Teachers on Special Assignment and the empty school bus driver position, to restructuring a program which assists homeless youth and reducing transportation costs.

One of the proposed cuts that troubled members of the BUSD Transportation Department is the elimination of a school bus mechanic position, which could compromise student and worker safety. Follansbee said, however, that the district expects to get eight new electric buses and eight new gasoline buses, which would require less maintenance than the current ones.

Some of the board members also voiced concern about a recommendation that would change the source of funding for some staff positions — including two counselor positions at Berkeley High School. The change would mean that these positions would only be funded for one year and could thereafter be cut altogether.

The board also approved a notice of violation to be sent out to REALM Charter School. Among other violations, REALM has not “reimbursed teachers for approved expenditures and has no plan to do so.” The notice also mentioned that a revocation of the charter could occur.

In response to petitions for affordable housing, the board also announced that it will look into building housing specifically for teachers in their work session before the meeting. An organization of community members called Berkeley Housing Opportunities for Municipal Employees presented on the housing crisis, providing potential models for future educator housing in Berkeley and suggesting “next steps” for the board, including looking for potential sites and getting support from the city.

Board director Ka’Dijah Brown also presented a resolution in support of the California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act, which would provide an additional $4.5 billion in California public school funding and $5.5 billion for social services.

Brown elaborated that BUSD believes that full funding of education should be a top priority for the California state legislature and the governor. She added that the district urges the state government to advocate for increases in federal special education funding and reform, as well as to support staff wages that “address California’s high cost of living.”

“It’s no secret that there is a strong need for increased state funding here in California and in our public schools, and our students honestly deserve the best educators and our educators deserve the best and most competitive compensation,” Brown said.

Contact Boyce Buchanan at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @BuchananBoyce.
LAST UPDATED

FEBRUARY 08, 2019


Related Articles

featured article
The board’s second meeting of 2019 started off with a celebratory presentation of a Socratic seminar by a group of eighth graders from Willard Middle School but was soon followed by a more serious public comment session that brought many in the audience to their feet in silent support.
The board’s second meeting of 2019 started off with a celebratory presentation of a Socratic seminar by a group of eighth graders from Willard Middle School but was soon followed by a more serious public comment session that brought many in the audience to their feet in silent support.
featured article
featured article
Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Donald Evans announced in a letter Thursday that he plans to retire, effective July 31. District school board members accepted his resignation letter at a meeting Thursday.
Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Donald Evans announced in a letter Thursday that he plans to retire, effective July 31. District school board members accepted his resignation letter at a meeting Thursday.
featured article
featured article
Berkeley city leaders working to close racial and economic opportunity gaps are fundraising to reach a $1 million goal this year on behalf of Berkeley Promise, a college access initiative and scholarship program.
Berkeley city leaders working to close racial and economic opportunity gaps are fundraising to reach a $1 million goal this year on behalf of Berkeley Promise, a college access initiative and scholarship program.
featured article