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La Canada Unified previews $1.9 million in planned cuts; schedules public budget workshop
Summary
Superintendent Wendy and district business staff told the board the district faces significant structural deficits and identified $1,900,000 in reductions to address. The board scheduled a public “brunch-and-learn” workshop for Feb. 21 to review the second interim budget.
Superintendent Wendy told the governing board the district will present a second interim budget report that shows “significant structural deficits” and will require reductions to balance future years.
Wendy said the district’s budget is heavily weighted toward labor costs — "when your budget consists of 80 to 85% of wages and salaries" — and that making substantial cuts will likely affect staff and programs. She said the district has planned a special workshop-style board meeting, described as a “brunch and learn,” to be held Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to present details and solicit community input.
Wendy told the board the session will “identify strategically the $1,900,000 of cuts that we need to make going this year going forward” and will include public comment and staff presentations. She said the district has been holding focus groups with parents, staff and community partners and will invite broader public participation in the workshop. Assistant Superintendent Melissa Shepherd was named as the staff who will present the second interim at the board meeting on Feb. 25.
Board members asked how budget changes would be reflected in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the county reporting forms. District staff said any reallocations or cuts would be documented in the LCAP narrative and in standard county reporting forms that require explanation of major changes to budgets and expenditures.
No final budget decisions were made at the meeting; the board approved the public workshop scheduling and the plan to present options for reductions. District leaders said they intend to maintain transparency and return to the board with proposed actions following the workshop.
