VENTURA : Schools’ Budget Gap Less Than Forecast

Ventura Unified School District’s projected budget shortfall for next school year is $500,000 less than expected, which means that the district may eliminate fewer elementary teaching positions than planned, officials said.

Barring any last-minute changes in the district’s budget, only 16 teaching posts would be eliminated next year under a new cost-saving plan, instead of 23, said Assistant Supt. Joseph Richards Jr. Most of the cuts would be achieved through attrition, he said.

District officials last month projected a $2.9-million budget deficit next year. But that figure was revised to $2.34 million because costs for liability insurance and workers’ compensation were lower than expected, the district’s finance director Georgeann Brown told the board Tuesday.

Brown warned officials that the shortfall is just an estimate and could change again after the state Legislature adopts its budget later this summer.

To balance the district’s $57.3-million budget next year, officials have recommended increasing the average class size in its elementary schools from 30 students to 32. Also recommended is the elimination of transition classes. These are one-year classes designed to help those students who have finished kindergarten but are not yet prepared to enter the first grade.

About 50 parents who attended Tuesday night’s board meeting urged the panel to preserve the transition classes.

Parent Carol Rutledge said she had been planning to enroll her 6-year-old son, Gregory, in a transition class at Junipero Serra Elementary School. Rutledge said her son needs special help to boost his confidence and self-esteem.

“I feel my child would be getting second best,” Rutledge said if the transition class program were eliminated. “My son would not be getting his best shot.”

District officials said they might be able to save the program if they can increase the average transition class size to 32 students. The average class size is now 23 students.

The board is expected to adopt its final budget June 23.