In January, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, faced with a projected budget
deficit of $14.5 billion, proposed a 10 percent state spending reduction for
the year that begins on July 1.
For schools, that meant a $4.8 billion cut from projected school spending
for the 2009 fiscal year. In the weeks following the proposal, more than 2,000
teachers received tentative layoff notices and school boards cut programs,
laid off other school employees and even closed a few schools.
The governor's revised budget proposal in May provides for a small increase
in education spending over fiscal year 2008 , even though it falls short of covering the
costs of inflation and growth, according to education leaders. In response,
local school districts have rescinded many of the teacher layoff notices.
This package of stories examines the potential effects of the cuts on school districts across San Diego County.
– Chris Moran
The stories
- Proposed school cuts set up standoff; Democrats push tax hike; GOP legislators oppose it (March 16, 2008)
- Parents, teachers anxious over proposed cuts; They fear more setbacks for academics, services (March 16, 2008)
- Will layoff notices spook potential teachers?; Shortage possible in the next decade (April 7, 2008)
- Emergency surgery' on schools; Crestview, Bobier trying to meet federal standards (May 3, 2008)
- School stands to lose nearly all its teachers; Layoffs could undermine Jackson Elementary's gains (May 6, 2008)
- Rules make cuts tough assignment; Schools' money often set aside for specific tasks (May 12, 2008)
- No uniformity with layoffs as schools cut budgets (May 14, 2008)
- School districts attending to attendance; Boosting student totals brings more state money (May 21, 2008)
- Districts' nonteaching personnel still in budget limbo (June 12, 2008)
