July 07, 2009
State says Calexico Unified May Not Meet Financial Obligations Next Year
The California Department of Education has placed the Calexico Unified School District on a watch list of districts that are in jeopardy of not meeting their financial obligations in the coming fiscal year.
The district's budget for the upcoming year is $81.51 million, according to the state Department of Education.The list is called the Qualified Certifications of School Districts and County Offices of Education 2008-09 Second Interim Report. Calexico Unified is one of 89 school districts in the state the department has identified as possibly not being able to balance their books during the upcoming fiscal year.
There are also 19 school districts the Department of Education has determined will definitely not meet their financial obligations. There are no Imperial County school districts on that list. One San Diego county school district, the Julian Union High School District, has been identified by the state as not being able to meet its financial commitments in 2009-2010.
Last month, Calexico Unified approved its budget for the coming year. The district also laid off 14 classified staff employees. At the time, district officials said the action would result in savings of over $400,000, but it remains to be seen if those cost savings will be enough to help the district keep its finances in the black. The district's budget for the upcoming year is $81.51 million, according to the state Department of Education.
State education officials say school districts are finding themselves placed on the list because of the recession that is gripping California and the nation.
In a prepared statement, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said districts have no choice but to layoff personnel and cut back services because of diminished tax revenue and the resulting budget cuts.
"Billions of dollars of state budget cuts to education have left local school districts with deficits that local school boards and administrators are attempting to address," said O'Connell. "The decisions they have been forced to make are heartbreaking: increasing class size, laying off teachers and classified staff; eliminating summer school, canceling arts, music, and sports. These are choices no educator in California wants to make. But the alternative is bankruptcy and entering state receivership. "
The current economic downturn has led to a $24.3 billion deficit in California's state budget. The Governor and the state Legislature have proposed cutting K-12 public education by $5.5 billion. Last week the Legislature approved a plan to defer millions more in payments that are due to schools in the coming year. These cuts and deferrals are in addition to the nearly $12 billion in cuts to public education that were already approved in the budget deal struck this past February.
To view the California Department of Education Qualified Certifications of School Districts list, click HERE
To view the Calexico Unified School District Web site, click HERE
The district's budget for the upcoming year is $81.51 million, according to the state Department of Education.The list is called the Qualified Certifications of School Districts and County Offices of Education 2008-09 Second Interim Report. Calexico Unified is one of 89 school districts in the state the department has identified as possibly not being able to balance their books during the upcoming fiscal year.
There are also 19 school districts the Department of Education has determined will definitely not meet their financial obligations. There are no Imperial County school districts on that list. One San Diego county school district, the Julian Union High School District, has been identified by the state as not being able to meet its financial commitments in 2009-2010.
Last month, Calexico Unified approved its budget for the coming year. The district also laid off 14 classified staff employees. At the time, district officials said the action would result in savings of over $400,000, but it remains to be seen if those cost savings will be enough to help the district keep its finances in the black. The district's budget for the upcoming year is $81.51 million, according to the state Department of Education.
State education officials say school districts are finding themselves placed on the list because of the recession that is gripping California and the nation.
In a prepared statement, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said districts have no choice but to layoff personnel and cut back services because of diminished tax revenue and the resulting budget cuts.
"Billions of dollars of state budget cuts to education have left local school districts with deficits that local school boards and administrators are attempting to address," said O'Connell. "The decisions they have been forced to make are heartbreaking: increasing class size, laying off teachers and classified staff; eliminating summer school, canceling arts, music, and sports. These are choices no educator in California wants to make. But the alternative is bankruptcy and entering state receivership. "
The current economic downturn has led to a $24.3 billion deficit in California's state budget. The Governor and the state Legislature have proposed cutting K-12 public education by $5.5 billion. Last week the Legislature approved a plan to defer millions more in payments that are due to schools in the coming year. These cuts and deferrals are in addition to the nearly $12 billion in cuts to public education that were already approved in the budget deal struck this past February.
To view the California Department of Education Qualified Certifications of School Districts list, click HERE
To view the Calexico Unified School District Web site, click HERE