BHUSD Brainstorms How to Make Up for Projected 2013-14 Cuts

Editor's Note: This article headline and text have been edited to reflect that the discussion of budget cuts was not on the school board's Tuesday study session agenda. The meeting did cover ways to make up for the projected revenue decrease. 

The Board of Education has yet to make a decision on how to make $3.5 million in potential programing cuts for the 2013-14 school year in anticipation of reduced state funding, but is exploring ways to make up for the expected shortfall. 

BHUSD's state funding will be below the level received in previous years. The district needs to make expenditure reductions to maintain a balanced budget, which it must show to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The cuts represent about 7 percent of the annual Beverly Hills Unified School District budget of $51.5 million.

Board members, school administrators and district parents spoke out at Tuesday's study session about ways to make up for the expected reduction in state funding. School principals will be asked to get more involved in PTA fundraising efforts, for example.

The non-profit Beverly Hills Education Foundation will start a major fundraising campaign later this month, BHEF officials said. The organization will ask each BHUSD family to contribute $1,000 every year. With about 3,200 families representing 4,500 students in the district, the campaign could net $3.2 million.

"The $3.2 million would only get us even," board President Brian Goldberg said about offsetting BHUSD's potential budget cuts. "This community needs to address a parcel tax."

The school board is set to address the budget cuts at its Nov. 27 meeting.

"We need to save ourselves here," board Vice President Jake Manaster said. "The entire school district will fall apart if it has to cut $3.5 million."

Check back with Patch later this week for coverage of the school board’s effort to put a parcel tax on the March 2013 Beverly Hills ballot.

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