By: Katie Lulla
Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews’s Jan.11 newsletter predicted 30 layoffs for the 2020-2021 school year. The most detrimental reductions to the budget would be teachers, so MBUSD should cut programs and personnel who are not teaching staff.
In MBUSD’s Jan. 15 Budget Workshop, MBUSD reported a projected $4,117,249 in deficit spending for the 2019-2020 school year. The deficit spending was a result of decreased revenue from California’s Local Control Funding Formula, increased Special Education expenditures, and personnel costs, according to Deputy Superintendent Murakawa-Leopard.
According to Matthews’ Jan. 11 newsletter, MBUSD estimates a need for $3 to $3.9 million in reductions for the 2020-2021 budget. In the Jan. 15 budget workshop, MBUSD gathered community members to discuss the most valued programs and aspects of the MBUSD experience.
According to Matthews, the largest reduction that can be made is staffing in grades K-12. If implemented, these budget cut can reduce expenditures by $1.1 million. The next largest reductions that can be made are counseling, zero periods and increases in class size.
Teacher layoffs would be the most detrimental to campus morale. Even if a teacher is not laid off in the final certificated layoffs, preliminary layoffs will hurt the campus atmosphere, according to Mira Costa Principal, Dr. Ben Dale. According to Matthews, personnel reductions must be made. However, teachers are at the forefront of the classroom and should be the last to be laid off.
According to MBUSD, 230 credits consisting of core classes, foreign language, health, athletics and electives are necessary to graduate Mira Costa. Teachers play a necessary role in graduation requirements. Other programs, such as counseling and zero period, are not needed to graduate and should be considered for cuts instead of teachers.
According to a Manhattan Beach Education Fund survey published on Jan.31, parents and educators ranked music teachers, physical education instructors and reading, math and library specialists as top priorities for grades K-5. Teaching staff maintain these valued programs, therefore, MBUSD should avoid making budget cuts that will result in teaching personnel layoffs.
Less established, non teaching personnel and programs should be cut first. According to Matthews, MakerSpace, TOSA services and recently hired administrators could reduce the budget by $889,000. Counseling service reductions and a more efficient Special Education program would also alleviate the cost pressures, according to Matthews.
According to Matthews, in the Jan.15 workshop, some non teaching personnel are important aspects of the MBUSD experience and would be very painful to cut. However, the effects of laying off teachers would more directly and negatively impact student success and achievement Therefore, non teaching personnel should be considered for layoffs prior to certificated teachers.
Teaching staff lead the programs that are most valued by parents and enable students to fulfill MBUSD graduation requirements. These programs should no be lost in the efforts of the district to make budget cuts. The potential reductions in teaching staff would ultimately devalue the MBUSD experience, indicating that the district should consider budget cuts in other programs and personnel.
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