Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Eric Zheng
Staff Writer
Many previously cut budget items were restored in the newly-revised school budget for 2009-10 approved by the school board on Sept. 16.
“I don’t believe there would be any programs at risk for this school year, and that’s thanks to the MBEF and the city of Manhattan Beach,” Vice Principal Jaime Mancilla said.
The new budget restores several programs and positions such as AVID, three art classes, freshman English classes and teachers. The librarian and the athletic trainer were also cut because of the reduced state funds. All of these programs and positions were retained except the athletic director position.
“I’m just so happy to be back. The kids in this school are terrific, the teachers are supportive and the administration is too,” librarian David Henderson said.
Henderson, along with all the other restored positions, was told that he would be reinstated by Mira Costa late in the spring semester.
“The only reason so many of these programs are still around is the generous and unselfish donations of the city of Manhattan Beach and the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation,” Assistant Superintendent Steve Romines said.
The MBEF donated $4.1 million and the city of Manhattan Beach donated $1.3 million to the school district. The donations from the MBEF and the city of Manhattan Beach offset the large cuts from the state government.
To combat the projected decrease the revised budget also cuts $1.1 million worth of total expenditures from 2008-09.
“Even though the financial situation may be stable now, we are expecting major cuts in the 2010-11 school year. That’s what we need to prepare for because our reserves are enough for this year,” Romines said.
While the ending fund balance, the increase in revenue over last year, is projected to be $6.4 million higher, next year it is projected to be $900,000 more than this year and the following year is predicted to be $1.8 million over that year.
This means that the district’s revenue growth increased this year to deal with cuts, but if there are future cuts from the state the district may not have the revenue growth needed to maintain all programs and teachers.
“Our budget is stable right now, but I’m expecting midyear cuts from the state ranging from $300,000 to $1 million,” Romines said.
With the state of California in over $24 million in debt, the MBEF will be burdened with offsetting a projected 7 percent decrease from state funds in 2010-11. However, there will be no staff cuts this year.
“With the new budget, I’m just happy to have our full staff back,” Mancilla said.
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