With deep cuts coming to employees and programs serving Modesto City Schools' 30,000 students, about 175 community members displayed signs and cheered speakers Wednesday night who urged trustees to keep the knife from music and arts programs and college counselors.
The special meeting at Modesto High School's auditorium was a chance for community members to throw in their two cents about items dear to them and students.
District officials plan on chopping $11 million from a $270 million budget for next school year.
No action was taken Wednesday, and district staff has not disclosed what it will recommend to trustees for elimination for the 2009-10 school year until a March 2 meeting. Notices of layoffs must be delivered by March 15 to certificated employees, such as teachers, counselors and librarians.
Trustees also heard an hourlong presentation from consultant School Services of California about how the latest state budget proposal affects Modesto City Schools.
The consultants told trustees they had to cut spending while offering a high-quality education, focusing on results and addressing the needs of all students.
"We have no precedent for the type of rollbacks being considered by the state," said Jannelle Kubinec of School Services, an advisory and lobby group for California school districts.
Kubinec urged trustees and staff to look at ways to increase revenue, such as increasing students' daily attendance, increasing programs offered through independent study and luring back students who attend charter schools.
Trustees then heard about an hour of public comment.
Most of Wednesday night's 35 speakers implored trustees to keep music and arts programs. Dozens of students waved signs saying "Save Music" and "No Music, No Life." At several points throughout the evening, the audience cheered boisterously, but not too raucously where the police officer stationed outside needed to intervene.
"What keeps kids coming to school every day is arts and music and sports; it makes school meaningful for children," Cindy Bender said.
Music and arts offer a "joyous energy" and a "sense of community" students don't get in English and math classes, said Anne Martin, a Modesto High music teacher.
Other speakers focused on the need for college counselors, who help students find colleges, apply to them and find out how to pay for them.
The district's goal is "a diploma in every hand," but "without college counselors, those students will go nowhere," said Melody McGill, a teacher at Roosevelt Junior High School.
Employees also pressed trustees to spread the reductions evenly, which includes trims at the administrative ranks.
"It's time to cut the too many chiefs and leave the too few Indians alone," said Don Corgiat, classified employees union leader.
Bee staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at mhatfield@modbee.com or 578-2339.
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