Sacramento City Unified School District is facing a major budget crisis, with warnings that it could run out of cash by July unless it borrows money, and even then, payroll may only be covered until February or March of next year. The school board is working to make cuts quickly to save money, but financial experts have advised that if the district wants to request help from the state, it must act soon. Despite this, school board president Tara Jeane said state receivership is not currently being considered. “The board right now is determined that we are not considering or looking at state receivership until another six months have passed and we have a lot more to do,” she said. “I’m not willing to give up until we’ve done everything we’ve decided and said we could do.”She said they’ll use the next six months to really dig into the data and make accurate data-based decisions. “We need to really determine what our priorities are, allocate our resources there and then let go of the rest. And all of that should be done with our local, democratic, community-driven process,” Jeane said. The district’s financial troubles began nearly a decade ago when a state audit revealed it had signed a labor contract it could not afford. The current board is now working to find solutions. “We’re at a point now where looking back and pointing fingers is really unhelpful. If you want to be on team Sac City right now, it’s about moving forward together,” Jeane said. Meanwhile, parents said they are worried about what could happen next for students and staff. “Nobody wants to see teachers or aids or even program cuts,” SCUSD grandparent Michele Essex said. “If they haven’t been able to get the budget under control year after year after year, maybe receivership could be a good thing.””I’m a special needs mom, and so special needs tend to get a lot of budget cuts in itself, but not alone just all the regular children. And you have to fight even harder for certain accommodations and whatnot,” Jeni Diaz, SCUSD parent, said. “There’s got to be better answers to what’s going on than what’s going on right now, in my opinion.”If the district decides to request state assistance before the next school year, it must do so before the end of the legislative session in August due to delays between requesting and receiving funds. Under state receivership, the county superintendent would assume all powers and duties of the district board, and the district superintendent would be dismissed.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento City Unified School District is facing a major budget crisis, with warnings that it could run out of cash by July unless it borrows money, and even then, payroll may only be covered until February or March of next year.
The school board is working to make cuts quickly to save money, but financial experts have advised that if the district wants to request help from the state, it must act soon.
Despite this, school board president Tara Jeane said state receivership is not currently being considered.
“The board right now is determined that we are not considering or looking at state receivership until another six months have passed and we have a lot more to do,” she said. “I’m not willing to give up until we’ve done everything we’ve decided and said we could do.”
She said they’ll use the next six months to really dig into the data and make accurate data-based decisions.
“We need to really determine what our priorities are, allocate our resources there and then let go of the rest. And all of that should be done with our local, democratic, community-driven process,” Jeane said.
The district’s financial troubles began nearly a decade ago when a state audit revealed it had signed a labor contract it could not afford. The current board is now working to find solutions.
“We’re at a point now where looking back and pointing fingers is really unhelpful. If you want to be on team Sac City right now, it’s about moving forward together,” Jeane said.
Meanwhile, parents said they are worried about what could happen next for students and staff.
“Nobody wants to see teachers or aids or even program cuts,” SCUSD grandparent Michele Essex said. “If they haven’t been able to get the budget under control year after year after year, maybe receivership could be a good thing.”
“I’m a special needs mom, and so special needs tend to get a lot of budget cuts in itself, but not alone just all the regular children. And you have to fight even harder for certain accommodations and whatnot,” Jeni Diaz, SCUSD parent, said. “There’s got to be better answers to what’s going on than what’s going on right now, in my opinion.”
If the district decides to request state assistance before the next school year, it must do so before the end of the legislative session in August due to delays between requesting and receiving funds. Under state receivership, the county superintendent would assume all powers and duties of the district board, and the district superintendent would be dismissed.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google