BUSD lays out options as budget talks continue
BARSTOW • Board members, school officials and staff, and community members eyed the various lists of proposed cutbacks as the district plans to cut $2.2 million in the coming weeks to stay financially solvent.
Tuesday’s board meeting covered a broad range of cutbacks, but also included some ideas of how the district could bring in some cash.
Among the suggestions was leasing various properties owned by the district, which includes both vacant buildings and land parcels. Leasable properties include Barstow Intermediate School, which has been closed since June 2009, the old Waterman Park near Central High School, a seven acre lot previously used as a farm on Highway 58, and three acres on Rimrock Road east of former Pitcher School.
The district also listed facility rental fees that ranged from $300 an hour for use of lighted fields to $15 per meeting for a classroom. Hiring an officer to bring truant students back to campus to improve attendance rates — which garners more per pupil funding from the state — was also suggested.
While the revenue generating suggestions didn’t come with dollar figures attached, Wardell said they’re still worth considering.
“They are ideas that have merit,” he said.
The money generating ideas, however, were overshadowed by the numerous cuts that BUSD is considering.
Board members discussed at length the proposal to scale back bus transportation, which serves almost 2,100 students. The district is considering cutting three routes and consequently altering school bell schedules.
According to Wardell’s report, the district would not save money by entirely eliminating buses for junior high and high school students because elementary level transportation would still incur costs.
“There is not as great a savings as we would like,” Wardell noted. Board member Ace Acevedo pointed out that scaling back buses may lead to dropping attendance, and board vice president Barbara Rose agreed.
“I think we’d have more empty seats,” she said.
Barstow Junior High School coach Chico Chavez urged board members to keep junior high sports. Superintendent Susan Levine clarified that the junior high sports reduction, listed as a $50,000 savings, would mean turning the competitive program into an intramural program. Chavez asked the district to consider alternatives like turning the program into a club where parents provide transportation or even eliminating his coaching stipend.
“It means a lot for the kids,” Chavez said.
Other cuts recommended by the budget committee included school closures, reducing work days of licensed vocational nurses and psychologists, and eliminating a speech therapist, among other positions. Board members will begin voting on which cuts to implement at the April 27 meeting.
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