Big crowd voices worries over Santa Rosa school cuts

An elementary school student voiced the concerns of more than 200 people appearing before the Santa Rosa Schools board Wednesday that cutting into programs would hinder rising test scores and give teachers less time to work with the students who need it the most.

Gildardo Lugo, who attends Luther Burbank Elementary School, said he doesn't know how budget cuts to Santa Rosa City Schools will affect his education, but he is sure they will.

“I don't think every teacher will have time for every student and their assignment,” he said.

When Lugo finished, some audience members were in tears, others were roaring in approval and board president Donna Jeye invited a second standing ovation.

Wednesday night marked the opening round of debate over the cuts that have loomed for months over Sonoma County's largest school district. Board members are not expected vote on the bulk of the budget before January, but the district has scheduled two town hall meetings in addition to regular board meetings in the coming weeks to hear from teachers, students, parents and school staff.

There was plenty of comment Wednesday night at the meeting held in the Santa Rosa City Council chambers.

The school district is debating cutting $5.7 million from next year's budget and another $4.7 million in the 2011-12 school year. Among the reductions being considered are closing schools, increasing class sizes in nearly every grade, eliminating librarian positions and axing art, music and computer programs at district elementary schools.

“The kids that I teach are getting so much from the continuation school format,” said Grace High School teacher John Berry, telling the board of the impact of closing three alternative high schools. “They are making comebacks...if we can get them going, we can turn around actual lives.”

The district could save $460,000 by closing Grace, Mesa and Midrose high schools that are designed as a second chance for students who typically haven't been successful at large, comprehensive high schools.

Nineteen speakers addressed the board over an hour, with many earning standing ovations and cheers. And many expressed sympathy for the decisions that are ahead of the board, including one of the school unions.

“Members are pretty upset about it, but they do understand that the state is the one that has done this to us, not you guys, so we are willing to help," said Mike LaPointe, president of a local chapter of the California School Employees Association. It includes custodians, warehouse staff and maintenance crews.

But teachers union president Dan Evans again pressed the board to consider taking a greater share of the cuts from district office funds.

“Management's share is $300,000 and the rest of the $5.6 million comes out of everyone else's hide,” he said.

Cuts already are affecting what is going on in the classroom, said Elsie Allen High School science teacher Brian Deller. Educators can no longer tell the public that students in Santa Rosa City Schools are getting the education they once did, he said.

“It is suffering,” he said. “Every year I eliminate labs because of money.”

Instead of cuts, Deller said increasing revenues must be part of the debate.

“We need to give the people in the community the right to increase revenue,” he said.

Trustee Wally Lowry said many in the public don't understand how cuts affect a student's school day.

“Parents don't understand, the public doesn't understand, we are in dire straights right now," he said.

The board has scheduled two town hall meetings in addition to regular board meetings. Town hall meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 at a location not yet determined. Regular board meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 28, Nov. 18 and Dec. 9 in Santa Rosa City Council chambers.