Parents & Students Object To Putting Buffum And Burroughs Schools On Budget Chopping Block; School Board Listens, Will Vote Next Month

(Jan. 19, 2011) -- Parents and students urged the LB Unified School Board of Education on Tuesday (Jan. 18) not to close Buffum and Burroughs Elementary Schools as part of LBUSD management's response to further anticipated Sacramento funding cuts.

BelmontShore.Patch.com reports the story here.

The board listened but took no action on the informational item, agendized as a budget matter; a vote is expected next month.

LBReport.com was first to report the proposed school closures last week.

In the item's agendizing memo, LBUSD Superintendent Chris Steinhauser wrote:

The state has experienced dramatic declines in revenue due to the severe economic downturn which began in the fall of 2007 and has made extensive reductions to public education funding as a result of the decline in state revenue. Based on the current status of the state budget and staff multi-year projections, the District faces major budget deficits.

Governor Brown has proposed a budget which relies on a measure being placed on the ballot and passed in June which would extend certain taxes (personal income tax, sales and use tax, lowered dependent tax credit, and vehicle license fees), providing approximately $8 billion in revenue to the State. The Governor did not outline a plan for funding school districts if the election might not pass, however estimates are being published in which school districts would lose approximately $1,000 per pupil in that event.

In order to prepare for the potential of drastically reduced revenues, staff is engaged in identifying expenditure reductions designed to safeguard the District against being placed in a position of fiscal jeopardy. These efforts are enhanced by input and suggestions from on-line budget surveys, Budget Advisory Committee, and numerous meetings held with stakeholders.

The Board may consider budget reductions and revisions in any department, division, program, or service in the District, including, but not limited to items listed as well as reductions in force or in hours for management and non-management certificated and classified positions. In addition, recommended actions of reducing unrestricted General Fund expenditures may include utilization of categorical funding, revenue enhancements, realignment of priorities, and implementation of other reductions.

RECOMMENDATION: Consider staff recommendations for budget reductions and revisions, provided for information only.

Parents were advised by letters being sent home with students. To view the letters, click here (Buffum) and here (Burroughs).

Buffum has 293 students and is located at 2350 Ximeno Ave. in Long Beach. Burroughs has 296 students and is located at 1260 E. 33rd St. in Signal Hill.

Both schools first opened in 1950.

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