School District Increases Class Sizes Under New Funding Structure

The city's five public schools began the fall semester with $2 million more in cuts compared with other years and with an increase in class sizes for younger students. But the district's programs, number of instructional days and classroom staffing remained intact.

"I'm happy to report that our schools opened with terrific enthusiasm," said Myra Lurie, a member of the board of education of the Beverly Hills Unified School District.

In the spring, Lurie was the lone board member to support cutting 10 teachers from the payroll. The teachers were retained, but class sizes in kindergarten through third grade were increased from 20 students per teacher to 22 students per teacher, according to board member Brian Goldberg. The district instituted a hiring freeze and moved some students to different schools to maximize resources, Lurie said.

More cuts are likely for the upcoming fiscal year and it is difficult to say what may find its way to the chopping block next, but Goldberg said the board is determined to keep the cuts far from the classrooms. The board has worked hard to retain library hours and the robotics program, he said.

The school district recently switched from revenue-based funding to Basic Aid, meaning it receives general purpose funding from local property taxes rather than funding from the state. The decision meant that at the start of this academic year, the district had $3 million more to fund its teachers and programs than it would have had if it had remained a revenue limit district. Still, about $2 million was cut out of this year's budget compared to other years.

The board is looking at reducing funding for food service and adult education as a way to further trim the budget, Goldberg said. How much trimming is necessary remains unclear.

"It all depends on our local property tax revenue as a Basic Aid district," he said.

As a result of California's budget crisis, the state is allowing the district to increase classes to 22 students per teacher without any financial penalty for districts that receive state funds for reduced class sizes in grades K-3. This new student-to-teacher ratio is the allowable limit under teachers' union contracts. Beverly Hills also participates in the state's class size reduction program, which allows it to receive state funds to help offset the costs for lower class sizes.

In light of the budget cuts and switch to a Basic Aid district, Lurie said she is anticipating "a year that will focus on student success and instructional excellence."