School budget pact is waiting

On the agenda for tonight's Modesto City Schools board of trustees meeting is an Enochs High School construction project, an agreement with the teachers union to reduce salary and workdays for 2009-10, and high school attendance boundary changes.

Trustees will hold a public hearing and consider approving construction of a veterinary science building at Enochs High School. The 16,0000-square-foot building would sit on the northwest side of campus. An environmental study showed no significant effects on the area, according to the board meeting's agenda.

With construction funding for the project on hold by the state, it's not clear when officials would break ground on the building. Its cost is estimated at $1.8 million.

After months of negotiating with the Modesto Teachers Association, both sides have a tentative agreement on budget cuts for the 2009-10 school year. Through salary cuts, reductions in workdays and larger classes, the district would save about $7 million from a budget of $270 million. Trustees will consider approving the agreement. It could go to the union for approval Tuesday.

Changes to the contract include a 1 percent pay cut for most certificated employees; the loss of three days' pay because of the elimination of two staff development days and three two-hour meetings; setting class sizes at a maximum of 38 students in core academic classes, 60 for physical education, and 40 in all other classes; reductions in nonteaching time for athletic directors and extracurricular stipends; and reductions to student activity directors' hours.

Further cuts depend on stimulus package

The agreement allows officials to further reduce pay if the district either doesn't receive money or gets less than is expected from the federal stimulus package.

Trustees also will review proposed high school student attendance boundaries for the 2010-11 school year, when Gregori High School opens in Salida. The changes will affect students who attend 11 elementary or junior high schools. As boundaries shift future students from Davis and Beyer high schools to Gregori, tweaks to the lines will backfill gaps at Davis and Beyer.

Enrollments at the district's seven high schools would range from 1,700 at Gregori High to 2,300 at Johansen High, according to the 2010-11 map.

Today's meeting will be open to the public. It will start at 6 p.m. in the district boardroom, 425 Locust St.

Bee staff writer Michelle Hatfield can be reached at mhatfield@modbee.com or 578-2339.