Cut Modesto-area school budgets from top down, parents say

By Nanette Austin
naustin@modbee.com

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Parents do not want further cutbacks in school sports and enrichment. They don't want just bare-bones academics. But fewer vice principals? That would be OK.

Last week Modesto City Schools reported it would not trim this year's spending to deal with a $9 million funding shortfall. The 2010-2011 school year, therefore, will have to absorb a shortfall of as much as $19 million; budget cuts will be gashes.

Modesto and Sylvan Union School District were among five districts given only "conditional approval" on their budgets by the Stanislaus County Office of Education. The designation is a D+ for the districts' fiscal plans -- barely passing.

Parents did the math and realized their children's passions probably would be the first thing to go.

"I believe they need to do more cutting at the top. I don't want to see our schools lose music and athletic programs," said Laura Fowler, mother of students at Sonoma Elementary and Enochs High School in the Modesto City district, and at Savage Middle School in the Sylvan district. Fowler and others responded to e-mails from a Bee reporter. "I see a lot of top heaviness. Why are there so many vice principals?"

At Sonoma, like Lakewood, she said, the PTA already is pitching in to save arts programs. Sonoma PTA raises money with a yearly talent show to pay for the piano teacher and organizes a jog-a-thon to raise money for an arts program. Fowler said she fears music is one of the areas being considered for more cuts or even elimination.

"There must be 150 kids in music at Savage. It's huge!" Fowler said. "I hate to see those programs go. These kids are involved. And to see a school with no sports -- that'd be weird. We grew up with Friday night football games."

Tima Mendez has two children in Modesto City Schools and said she's worried about next year.

"It's disheartening to hear that students and school programs will suffer deep cuts next year with the hovering $19 million deficit," she said, adding that her son hopes to play baseball when he goes to high school next year -- "so I definitely do not want to see freshman athletics being cut."

Not happy with arts cuts

Sylvan parent Lisette Scott said she is disappointed with cuts to the arts and other programs that her children at Savage and Standiford Elementary enjoy.

"I was raised in Sylvan Union and made sure to live in the area so my children could go to one of the schools," she said, adding that Sylvan's focus on the arts was what made the difference. Now, she said, music, art and outdoor education programs are being cut.

"So, now we are letting the environment and world go to pot along with our children's minds -- great! This once again leaves only middle of the road teaching to middle of the road kids. We are lucky to have some wonderful teachers, but with the budget, time restrictions and government 'guidelines' we are making a nation of average people. Where is this putting our children? Where are the future leaders going to come from?"

Parent Wendy Blair echoed that sentiment: "Education is a multiplier. Educated children will increase the future tax base. Future roads, parks, other programs will be funded because we invested in our children -- all of our children."

Blair, who has children at Enochs and Ustach Middle School, said she would rather see cuts made as far from the classroom as possible.

"My husband Tom and I think that a hard look should be taken at administrative overhead and how it has grown compared to enrollment," she said.

Blair said she would see the overhead reduced a little each year -- even after this crisis.

In the end, parents know there has to be more income -- meaning tax revenue -- or more cuts.

"This weighs heavily on our hearts as parents and features frequently in our prayers," Blair said. "We wonder where the bottom of this will be."

The Modesto City Schools District board of trustees meets at 6 p.m. today at 425 Locust St.