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CDel Mar Union School District board briefs, June 25 meeting School District $1.2 million in the red, emergency funds to remain at $3.6 million The 2008-2009 budget for the Del Mar Union School District was approved at the district’s June 25 meeting, but met with hesitancy from the board regarding its continued deficit spending. The budget’s total revenue is $37,664,211, while expenditures in the unrestricted general fund are $38,704,164, resulting in a bottom line net loss of $1,230,183. Despite the loss, undesignated reserves — money not earmarked for a specific purpose and saved for emergencies — are to stay constant at $3.6 million through the 2010-2011 school year. The report, presented by Dena Whittington, district assistant superintendent of business services, outlined an increase in enrollment for the 2008-2009 year, and a projected multi-year property tax increase of 5 percent. The substantial deficit worried board members, who are cautious of further deficit spending and unsure as to why the undesignated reserves aren’t being spent. Board president Annette Easton said, “Realistically, the district is going to have to look at other ways to solve the problem. We can’t keep deficit spending. All of us will be conscientious in looking at ways to reduce expenses.” Though Interim Superintendent Janet Bernard admitted, “We’re basing a lot on assumptions,” she expressed confidence that keeping the reserves at $3.6 million and deficit spending is not a problem, a sentiment echoed by board member Janet Lamborghini, who said, “We’re historically not as bad off as we thought we were. It’s all perception.” Enrollment predictions worry board members The inability to pin down exact enrollment numbers was a contentious issue at the Del Mar Union School District’s June 25 meeting. Projected enrollment for the 2008-2009 year is estimated at 4,140, but currently enrollment is at 4,041 — 69 students less than the 2007-2008 year. With district revenue declining in all areas aside from property tax, and a deficit of more than $1.2 million in the 2008-2009 budget, board members took issue with the uncertainty of the enrollment predictions, and expressed their hesitancy in allowing assumptive data to feed into the budget. Roger Smith, director of human resources, responded by saying, “The trend is flattening out, versus the continual growth we’ve had the last couple years. But enrollment is squirrely, it changes all the time. It’s a living, flowing thing that we adapt to as conditions develop. It’s a fluid process. We don’t panic.” A one-time state grant in 2006-2007 of $711,617 raised the total revenue available for each student to $9,390. In the two years since, revenue per student has decreased: in the 2008-2009 budget, revenue per student is $9,164, while expenditures per student are $9,422. Veterans Day holiday exposes inconsistency between Del Mar and San Dieguito calendars Del Mar students have to change their calendars come November. At the school district’s June 25 meeting, a calendar discrepancy was pointed out regarding the Veterans Day (Nov. 11) holiday. This year, Veterans Day falls on a Tuesday, but the day before, Monday, Nov. 10, is a regular school day. Board member Katherine White brought to the board’s attention the San Dieguito School District’s calendar, which allots Monday, November 10, as a vacation day in addition to Veterans Day. She expressed concern that with Tuesday off but not Monday, schools could experience dramatically low attendance on the 10th. White also pushed for consistency between the two district’s calendars. No changes were made at the meeting, but the board elected to look at alternatives, including making the 10th a vacation day to match San Dieguito, or placing a vacation day later in the school year. enrollment report from Rodger Smith, the district's director of facilities, planning and human resources. —Reported by Matt Liebowitz |
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