School district unveils $96.7-million budget
Enrollment down, but not expenses
By Stephanie Bertholdo  bertholdo@theacorn.com

Las Virgenes Unified School District officials reacted with cautious optimism to a $96.7-million budget approved by the board of education June 26.

Superintendent Donald Zimring provided a preview of the budget at a board meeting two weeks earlier. He said the state's economic upturn prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to fully fund Proposition 98, a constitutional funding guarantee for the state's public schools.

The proposition was in jeopardy just a few years ago when the governor favored dismantling the minimum funding guarantees in an effort to boost California's then-sagging economy.

Schwarzenegger and the Legislature also agreed to fully fund the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) at 4.53 percent, despite hefty accounting errors that reportedly shaved millions of dollars off the actual budget. Zimring said the state made a $364-million error in the amount of money generated for kindergarten-through-12th-grade programs. State tax receipts were also lower than what the governor had originally reported in May.

In Las Virgenes, average daily attendance continued to decline for the fourth consecutive year. In dollars and cents, the district is looking at a revenue loss of $1.24 million for next year.

On the bright side, Zimring said increases in special education costs have slowed and the state and county have relaxed requirements on mandated cost repayments. He also said successful changes in the district's worker's compensation programs have resulted in reduced rates.

The opening of Yerba Buena Elementary School will increase overhead costs, but one-time state funds totaling more than $1 million have yet to be spent. About the same amount--$927,000--will be subtracted from next year's budget when the Las Virgenes Community Learning Center, a new alternative elementary school, opens in the fall.

The school is expected to boost enrollment by the 2008-09 school year. The district must cover all expenses for the interim school year.

"In the long term, LVCLC should help stabilize or even increase district enrollment," Zimring reported.

He told board members there was still some uncertainty in the budget due to a pair of special education lawsuits that are pending and questions about the actual operating costs of the new school.

With estimated revenues reaching $96.7 million, and expenditures expected to total about $94.7 million, district reserve levels are healthy.

Zimring said declining enrollment, costs of health and welfare, employee raises and other expenses brings the surplus amount down to $1.5 million.

Measure E proceeds brought $2 million to the Las Virgenes education table. Zimring said the funds were allocated toward counseling, libraries, athletics, reading teachers, and music and art programs..

Declining enrollment and special education funding are the two major forces driving the budget, Zimring said. Enrollment is expected to drop to 11,000 students by 2010-11. At its peak in 2003-2004, enrollment reached 12,200. To offset the drop, the district allows out-of-district students to enroll. More than 1,000 students living outside district boundaries attend Las Virgenes schools.

As for special education, Zimring said if the federal government fully funded the Individuals with Disabilities Act as promised when the law was created, Las Virgenes would receive an additional $6 million a year.

The district has the greatest number of special education students in the county and Zimring said the per pupil special education cost in Las Virgenes is $1,722. If district special education costs were at the same average as those in Ventura County, the district would receive an additional $3 million, he said.

The budget will be reviewed again in 45 days.

Board member Dave Moorman encouraged the public to examine the budget to better understand how the school district operates. He said the document is "readable and understandable."

For further information, call the school district at (818) 880-4000.