Enrollment Slowing at Manhattan Beach Schools

As the Manhattan Beach Unified School District contemplates budget cuts and teacher lay-offs, slowing enrollment is threatening to augment fiscal problems.

"Early indications are that we are not receiving the permits that we have in the past," said Superintendent Beverly Rohrer. "We are not getting the typical pattern as far as enrollment growth, or even the stability of enrollment."

Fewer students will mean less money from the state and government. Should the district face declining enrollment, it will impact the 2011-12 budget, which Rohrer says may already be one of the tightest in recent years. This year, the district's kindergarten population was down almost 8 percent from last year. The board resolved to increase recruitment efforts.

"We cannot ignore this," said Rohrer, who says that new charter schools in the area may be having an impact on local schools. The last time enrollment dipped significantly in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District was in the 1980s when a school was closed due to under-population.

"It's cyclical because we're a closed community," said School Board President Ida VanderPoorte.

The news came at a recent school board meeting as the board contemplated a second draft of budget reduction options for the district. In an attempt to cut $6.5 million from the $51 million budget, a total of 13 percent overall, previous suggestions have been significantly expanded. If the plan is implemented, two elementary school principals will be laid off. A total of 77 positions in the district will be cut. Teachers, librarians and counselors will receive pink slips.

Mira Costa High School junior Amanda Blumenthal, who is an honor roll student with a GPA of 4.5, stood at the podium during the public comment portion of the meeting to plead that her science lab teacher not be laid off.

"I have come here tonight because I would like to address the fact that the science lab assistant position at Mira Costa is being considered to be cut," said Blumenthal. The assistant—Ms. Cunningham—is "irreplaceable" at the school, according to Blumenthal. "Ms. Cunningham is not only there to provide the support that I personally need, but is also someone who is there as an endearing person students can approach. It's not just me that she helps. She's fun, dedicated, and has passion—which is something you don't always see in teachers."

VanderPoorte said she was "dumbstruck" by the amount of cuts needed to balance the projected budget shortfall. A group of teachers in the audience, however, were unsympathetic. "I feel so bad for you," commented one woman sarcastically.

Teacher Kathy Wiley told the board that the community has been taking teachers for granted for a decade. Even in more stable financial times, more than 10 percent of teacher salaries have been forfeited to keep the district afloat during episodes of "poor fiscal management," according to Wiley.

"Teaching is all about giving—extra time, encouragement and energy to maintain this wonderful education that we have here in Manhattan Beach," said Wiley. "And in every financial crisis we have faced, teachers have given. Yet there are those in the community now that would have us sacrifice even more."

Joanne Guelff, a first-grade teacher at Grand View Elementary School, told the board that after years of diminishing pay scales, teachers no longer have any financial incentive to take courses to improve financial instruction.

"We have heard some say that it's time for teachers to give back," said Guelff. "We say: We are, we always have been and we have no more to give."

In addition to teacher cuts, VanderPoorte suggested that the board consider changing the ratio of kindergarten classes to 29 to 1, and perhaps even holding all kindergarten classes in one school.

Rohrer reminded the board that the final proposal for districtwide cuts needs to be ready by March 3. A resolution will be prepared for March 8.