Proposed school cuts total $18 mil.

Terry Webster

Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

Nearly $18 million in proposed budget cuts this year in the Clark County School District could affect everything from student transportation to programs for at-risk students and key staff positions.

Key among those proposals, according to district budget worksheets obtained by the Sun, are plans to eliminate the elementary school Pathways program for disruptive students, saving $425,000; cut elementary school dropout prevention support, for $277,000; institute a hiring freeze and reassign secondary dean positions, for $587,000; and cut transportation personnel, for $227,000.

Budget officials also are recommending the district consider reducing bus service for high school students starting next year, providing rides for those who live three miles from school, instead of the current two miles.

Chief Financial Officer Walt Rulffes said all of the cuts are significant and severe.

Overall, the district expects to save $2.5 million through hiring delays, overtime reduction and utility conservation programs. School officials also plan to pull $5 million from a reserve account to help balance the budget.

The plan to offset a deficit in the district's $1.1 billion budget shows the district had to find $10.8 million more for unexpected salary increases required in union agreements and $2.9 million to pay rising utility costs.

The district also is facing an estimated decline in interest earnings of about $3.3 million, the worksheets show.

The School Board began today reviewing the proposal and is expected to vote on it next week.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia said the district needs the state to help cover the unexpected salary expense.

"Without having a cost-of-living adjustment over the next two years, the district will be faced with having to make very significant cuts in programs," Garcia said.

If approved as presented by district staff members, the plan will eliminate a total of $880,000 from the district's elementary programs and $714,000 from secondary education.

The district also is starting preliminary work on its 2001-02 spending plan.

Next year's tentative budget shows money being set aside for block scheduling, a program Garcia has proposed to help students who have fallen behind catch up on credits needed for graduation; the district's reading program; magnet schools; and mid-year school openings, part of the accelerated building program.

The new budget plan also shows the proposal to limit transportation for high school students and replenishing the reserve account.

It does not provide for salary increases, nor for inflationary adjustments for staffing and instructional materials for schools.