Budget Crisis Hits Home

On January 21, Superintendent Marla Stephenson of the Albany Unified School District came to AHS to report to faculty about the fiscal crisis faced by Albany and districts across the state. Because of the governor’s proposed education cuts for the upcoming school years, Albany Unified could be forced to cut $2.2 million, or 15 percent, from next year’s budget. In addition, half a million dollars is proposed to be cut from this year’s budget.
“The proposed budget didn’t just startle me, it alarmed me,” explained a worried Stephenson.
In comparison to other districts, Albany is in a better position. Former superintendent Dr. Willie Wong and Stephenson built an 8 percent reserve in preparation for a disaster such as this. The PTSA, SchoolCare, the Albany Education Foundation, the Albany Music Fund and other dedicated community organizations have helped to fund teachers, elective classes, and extracurricular programs that might otherwise be cut. Recent parcel taxes passed by voters have helped supplement the budget as well.
However, as faculty has heard and the community is learning in upcoming PTSA meetings, we are still in a dire fiscal crisis. The administrators from the elementary, middle and high school are in the process of drawing up a list of possible program and personnel reductions to ease the financial strain. This could include coordinators, teachers on special assignment, secretaries, clerks, custodians, technicians, athletics, visual arts programs, certificated teachers and more.
At the moment, no decisions have been made. There is a concern that classroom teachers who will receive layoff notices at the end of year will not be asked to return. Governor Schwarzenegger has even considered reducing the number of school instruction days from 180 to 175.
Albany’s proposed budget for the next three school years looks grim. President Obama’s idea for an education stimulus package, in which all states would receive federal money for public education, has made administrators, faculty and staff hopeful. However, while the severity of the budget cuts is still unknown, California’s pubic education system doesn’t look promising.
More on the education budget crisis will be covered in the The Cougar. The financial situation was discussed at the PTSA meeting on February 2. In addition, a staff forum will be held on February 3 at 3:30, a student forum on February 6 during Advisory, and a parent forum on February 9 at 7:00 in the Little Theater