San Rafael City Schools to Issue 52 Pink Slips

Facing a possible $4.3 million budget gap, San Rafael City Schools will be issuing at least 52 pink slips to employees in the elementary and high school districts by March 15, according to a report from the SRCS superintendent.

“This is one of the most challenging things to do,” SRCS Superintendent Michael Watenpaugh said. “There are real people connected with the positions on that list. These people are our friends, our colleagues.”

Governor Jerry Brown’s 2011-2012 budget plans to cut $12.5 billion in state programs and leave public education funding flat, depending if voters approve a five-year tax extension. This tax extension would have to be approved by the state legislature in March before it could be on the June ballot. 

If a ballot measure fails, San Rafael City Schools would have to make a cumulative $4.3 million worth of cuts to offset the deficit. This would mean increase of class sizes for kindergarten to fifth grade, loss of home-to-school transportation and other services supported by the General Fund as well as layoffs.

“To not know months out what will happen and to be pink slipped causes such emotional pain,” said Greg Knell, a member of the SRCS Board of the Trustees.

This will be the fourth year the district will be issuing pink slips. For the elementary school district, approximately 38 employees will receive notices.  These will affect the availability of after-school programs, counseling, pre-kindergarten and physical education.

For the high school district, approximately 14 employees will receive notices, which will affect instruction in performing arts, physical education, social science, foreign language and multimedia. Counseling and library services will also be cut back.

While the district has been able to retain many employees even after issuing the notices, this year faces more uncertainty since federal stimulus money will expire by September 2011.

“It’s like rolling the dice when it comes to what’s going to happen,” Watenpaugh said.

School board members are now looking at budget projections for the next two years to consider whether they should spend rainy day funds to cushion the blow.

Although there is approximately $6 million in reserve for the elementary and high school districts, these funds are one-time-only and would not be enough to sustain the schools for more than one year, according to a report prepared by Watenpaugh and SRCS Chief Business Officer Christine Thomas.

“There’s no reason to believe things are going to be better next year,” Board Vice President Paul Cohen said.