School Board to Narrow Down Major Budget Cuts Tonight

Tuesday’s school board meeting marks the joint meeting between the district’s trustees and the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation (BCE). This meeting, which outlines the programs supported by BCE and what direction to take on these programs in the upcoming 2011-2012 school year, holds special significance considering a discussion on budget cuts on the agenda for later in the evening.

At their , the board of trustees agreed upon an $80,000 target in budget reductions for the 2011-2012 school year. The trustees reviewed and discussed a list of possible program and position cuts. District staff will bring a revised and narrowed list to Tuesday’s meeting, and board members will continue their discussion on reductions.

If some of these programs are to be saved, the responsibility might end up in the hands of BCE, or individual school’s PTAs.

In keeping with the theme of budgetary concerns, district staff requests that the board of trustees approve Resolution 2010/11-18 at their meeting. The resolution supports Senate Constitutional Amendment 5 authored by Senator Joe Simitian. He proposed that, in light of recent financial hardships to schools, parcel taxes could be passed by school districts with only a 55 percent majority instead of the current two-thirds majority.

Also during the meeting, the trustees will discuss direction on a proposed bond for the November 2011 ballot and a consultation contract with TBWB regarding the bond at $5,000 per month from April through August.