$22M cut proposed; district could lay off 162 employees
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/07/2012 10:48:47 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – Schools may have to get through next year without 162 employees, part of $22 million in proposed cuts the school board considered Tuesday night.

If they’re lucky.

In a best-case scenario, reduced funding from the state will force the San Bernardino City Unified School District to cut $21.7 million from the 2012-13 budget, Chief Financial Officer Mohammad Islam said Tuesday.

If a statewide tax to fund education doesn’t pass in November, required cuts could balloon to $39.4 million.

“In that case, we’re looking at cutting 15 instructional days,” Islam said. “Does that mean we have to implement that plan? No. We have to have an action plan for worst-case.”

The proposal the board considered was incomplete, district staff members emphasized. They will continue working to have a complete set of suggestions by Feb.21, when the board must decide whether to send layoff notices in time for mailing by the legal deadline of March 15.

“We’ve been working constantly in order to bring all the information to the board,” Interim Superintendent Yolanda Ortega said. “This list is missing many items. It’s not in any particular order.”

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