Some Good News, Perhaps, for San Leandro Schools in Revised State Budget

Governor Jerry Brown released his revised state budget for 2011-2012 Monday morning, and the numbers included more money for schools than the governor originally laid out in January. But school officials aren’t celebrating yet.

"It’s a little bit more, but we don’t have the details yet," said Song Chin-Bendib, assistant superintendent for the . 

Brown projected that the state will take in $6.6 billion more in tax revenue this year and next year than was originally expected, with $1.6 billion of that going to K-12 education and community colleges.

But that money is cash already owed to the schools. The Sacramento Bee reports that the extra cash would go towards reducing short-term IOUs to schools, which the governor's previous budget proposal relied on, in part, as a form of "backdoor borrowing."

While the money may help some school districts that have had to borrow money against those IOUs, SLUSD has tightened its belt rather than borrow money in recent years.

District officials are waiting to find out exactly what the new budget proposal might mean for schools at a conference scheduled for May 23 in San Jose by School Services of California, Inc., a school consulting and advocacy firm.

The budget battle in the state capitol is far from over.

Any budget the governor proposes must be approved by the legislature before it can be enacted. Brown has been battling with Republican legislators over extending higher sales, vehicle and income taxes for five more years. On Monday, he floated delaying the income tax proposal while continuing to push for the other two, which he said would net a total increase in education spending of about $3 billion over last year.

“This is a program of taxes with a vote of the people,” Brown said at a press conference, while also proposing to lay off 5,500 state workers and eliminate various boards and commissions.

However, without agreement in the legislature, it’s unclear if or when Brown will be able to put the tax extensions before voters.

Faced with that uncertainty, school districts have been contemplating two very different budget scenarios—one if the tax extensions pass, and another far more draconian option if they don’t. 

In San Leandro Unified's proposed budget, based on a no-tax-extension scenario, 20 teachers will be laid off (they have already received pink slips). Middle school counseling services, physical education and fifth grade music will be cut back, and K-3 classes are scheduled to swell to 32 students come fall 2011. 

The district's school board is holding a special meeting to discuss the budget on May 31. It must submit its budget by June 30.