Talks Begin Over Cuts
By Teresa Rochester

The music of a lone clarinet ushered in an overflow crowd who came Thursday night to urge the Board of Education to spare programs as it began reviewing ways to bail the school district out of a potential fiscal nightmare.

The clarinet player, Franklin Elementary School fourth-grader, Jeremy Tremer, was among more than two dozen students and parents, who pleaded with the board not to cut the school district’s elementary music program.

"If the city of Santa Monica can spend millions for a millenium party on the pier and they can’t keep the music program, I’m going to a different school district," Tremer said to loud applause.

While elementary instrumental music was not listed as a program to cut entirely, like some of the 65 programs and positions presented to the board to help make up for the district’s potential $5 million shortfall, it was listed as a program that could be restructured via teacher cutbacks. The "Budget Reduction List" presented to the board also suggests eliminating middle school music classroom aides.

"These items are possibilities," Superintendent Neil Schmidt said, adding that if all 65 items are eventually approved by the board they would total $5 million in savings.

"We’re not making a decision tonight. We are just discussing possibilities," Board President Todd Hess said. "I would encourage you to listen carefully to the information presented to you. This process goes well into next spring."

The potential cuts include:

· Extended library hours for technology

· Assistant principals in district middle and high schools

· School nurses

· Librarians and Library Coordinators

· Gardner and custodial supervisor

· 1.50 counselors at district middle and high schools

· Dance Academy – a third grade dance program

· SAMOHI’s A.V.I.D. program which helps under-represented students succeed in upper-level math and science classes as well as Honor and Advanced Placement classes.

"I can only tell you for these programs that have people attached, they have a face and a name and we know every single one of them," Schmidt said as he read through each item.

The district’s English as a Second Language Program also made the list. The program is mandated but the district could cut ESL teachers, leaving instruction duties to regular teachers with certain credentials. According to the list eliminating ESL would save the district $600,000 and affect approximately 1500 students.

"The following children are affected by your decision in February," said Yolanda Marmolejo, a third grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary School, before she read the names of each of the school’s ESL students.

"Will they be doctors," she asked as she made her way down the list. "What will they be in 10, 15 years without the education they rely on? They are the future citizens of Santa Monica."

While board members did no take action they did request district staff provide them with more information before their meeting on Jan. 6, when staff notifies the board of potential layoffs.

"One area I think, in terms of going through this document, when we get to nurses, ESL and P.E., it’s the whole program," Board Member Julia Brownley said. "I want to look at this in increments not the whole program."

Former Board President Margaret Quinones said she could not accept any of the proposed cuts and called on the community to help out the district.

"When I first came on the board in 1992 we had to cut $1 million. It feels awful to be here again," she said. "I’m not going to support any of these cuts. We need commitment from the community. I want to see them come and join us. If this city, if we, really want exceptional schools then where is the commitment?"

The district found itself, in what Schmidt referred to as "an absolute disaster," in late October, when actual enrollment fell 371 students short of the district’s projected enrollment, which had been used to create budgets for the current and upcoming school year.

The district receives approximately $4200 per student from the state. California ranks 42 in the nation on education spending.