FHUSD has studied many different scenarios in order to do their share of cost cutting measures greatly supported by our local overrides. We have saved thousands in electrical costs with our updated facilities in terms of chillers, HVAC systems and lights. We are prepared to go the 2010-11 school year without full-day KG funding (maintaining full-day program using K-3 override dollars) and without soft capital funding (textbooks, software and low level maintenance). Over the past two years we have cut classified, secretarial, administrative and teaching positions. Last year we also raised athletic and club fees to help mitigate the cost of having a broad extracurricular program to enrich student lives. The state has also took facility renewal dollars that we have overcome with local capital override support.
Currently, we have asked our building principals to work with staff to cut up to 10% based on the uncertainity of our future funding. That would result in another $1.2 million in cuts above and beyond the loss of the full day KG funds and soft capital. This would have to come from personnel and programs directly affecting our students' academic experience. As the Legislature makes budget decisions we will have building specific meetings to discuss the proposed cuts in personnel and program. It is our hope that the $287 million statewide that has been "swept" back over the past three years, not including full-day KG and soft capital amounts, will be enough to help our state through this crisis.
On possible solution may rest with the 1% Sales Tax measure in May 2010. This "temporary" 1 cent per $1 spent will go 2/3 toward state education and 1/3 toward state health/safety programs.
As a district we are lucky to have the continued support of our three local overrides that have helped to this point to protect our staff and programs.
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