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Committee warns ELD, mental-health and early-childhood services could face cuts without $3 million
Summary
Committee members and commenters cautioned that avoiding cuts to ELD (English Learner Development), mental-health and early-childhood services would require finding about $3 million in additional revenue; possible trade-offs discussed included furlough days, ending SUN programming and removing SROs.
During the budget discussion, committee members and public commenters emphasized that ELD and mental-health supports are priorities and that the alternative to proposed cuts would be to find about $3 million elsewhere in the budget. Committee notes list several possible measures to free that funding: an additional five to six furlough days for staff, ending SUN programming, removing school resource officers (SROs) or increasing class sizes.
Committee members directed Board, staff and bargaining groups to assemble a priority list of items to restore if additional funding becomes available. The minutes record continuing concern about student wellness and early-childhood intervention needs; staff noted referrals for early intervention come from parents, pediatricians and preschools and that needs among younger students have increased.
