MBUSD presents revised budget

By Shaylyn Austin
News Editor

At the Wednesday Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees Workshop, MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Rick Bagley recommended revisions to the 2013-14 budget that reduces the cuts to certificated teaching positions from 24.6 to 11.2.

The Board previously approved the reduction of 24.6 full-time equivalent certificated positions from the budget at its March 6 Board meeting. This resulted in the distribution of 30 pink slips throughout the district.

“We are committed to looking for ways to bring back as many teachers as possible,” Matthews said.

To maintain its initial plan of $2 million in expenditure cuts for the 2013-14 school year, the Board is looking at alternative means of reductions. This includes a projected $880,000 in cuts to Books and Supplies and $435,000 to Services.

“None of these things are easy, and we basically rely on the administrators to tell us what they think will have the least impact on students,” MBUSD Board President Ida Vanderpoorte said.

The Board is also projecting an additional $500,000 in revenue for next year from the city through the renegotiation of lease agreements. MBUSD and the Manhattan Beach City Council are meeting on April 22 to further discuss this agreement.

“Our district is looking at making some serious cuts,” Costa teacher Barry Smith said. “I would like to see our district look outside the box for additional funding.”

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation has not yet voted on its grants for this year.

“We will take this proposal back to see what we can bring to the table,” MBEF President Nina Patel said.

The Board plans to discuss the 2013-14 budget at each Board meeting leading up to the official revisions in May.

“I think we were being aggressive with some of the cuts we were making,” Vanderpoorte said. “I would like the opportunity to go through some of these things with the department heads.”