Riverbank school district looks for cuts

Trustees hope to nip budget $1.4 million

By EVE HIGHTOWER
ehightower@modbee.com

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RIVERBANK -- Trustees hope to decide today how to whittle down Riverbank Unified School District's budget by 5 percent.

More than half of the district's budget savings likely will come from retirement incentives offered to teachers, administrators and counselors. The other half involves cutting positions and contracts.

Of the $1.4 million district officials are looking to cut, $776,654 will come from golden handshakes, or early retirement incentives. It's been four years since the district last considered retirement incentives, said Superintendent Joe Galindo.

Modbee.com continuing coverage: School budget crisis

The savings plan before trustees today includes retiring six teachers, an administrator and cutting a counselor's position in half.

If the golden handshake offer is approved, the district could lose enough staff through retirement to avoid layoffs, Galindo said. Last month, the district notified 12 teachers that their jobs may be cut.

Trustees also will consider cutting a teacher aide, office clerk, custodian and bus driver for a savings of $259,960.

Many of the positions on the chopping block are already vacant, Ron Costa, assistant superintendent for business services, said at a board meeting earlier this month.

The district also is looking at canceling contracts worth $245,865. Those range from a $180,000 language program for children with speech difficulties to $1,850 for Modesto Bee subscriptions.

Field trips, supplies and more may be hit, too. Cutting summer school for second- to seventh- graders could save the district $50,625.

"For kids who really need help, we'll supply different classes. We'll meet their needs," Galindo said.

Trustees should have a better idea of the district's financial situation in May, when it gets more information from the state. If trustees find more money than anticipated is coming to Riverbank, they can return things to the budget, Galindo said. But he's skeptical that will happen.

"I don't think I've seen it this dire since I've been in education," he said of statewide budget cuts to school districts.

Bee staff writer Eve Hightower can be reached at ehightower@modbee.com or 578-2382.