Schools have cut many jobs, programs : Local News : Ventura County Star:
"The districts reported a total of 770 positions lost this year, including 445 teacher jobs — about 58 percent of the total cuts.
About three-quarters of the districts raised class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, which used to top out at 20 students under a statewide reduction program. Most have increased to 22 to 24 students this fall.
About half of the districts used furloughs to cut workdays and save cash but kept the same number of student instruction days. Only Ojai Unified School District cut instructional days, shaving five from the end of the school year.
Still, it could have been worse if school districts had not received federal stimulus funds, about $64 million locally. Without that cash, next year could be even bleaker, educators say.
“A lot of people have been describing it as a cliff — or Niagara Falls,” said Stan Mantooth, county superintendent of schools. “It’s putting off a day of reckoning. Things are going to be potentially catastrophic in 2011 unless schools get some other source of relief.”"
"The districts reported a total of 770 positions lost this year, including 445 teacher jobs — about 58 percent of the total cuts.
About three-quarters of the districts raised class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, which used to top out at 20 students under a statewide reduction program. Most have increased to 22 to 24 students this fall.
About half of the districts used furloughs to cut workdays and save cash but kept the same number of student instruction days. Only Ojai Unified School District cut instructional days, shaving five from the end of the school year.
Still, it could have been worse if school districts had not received federal stimulus funds, about $64 million locally. Without that cash, next year could be even bleaker, educators say.
“A lot of people have been describing it as a cliff — or Niagara Falls,” said Stan Mantooth, county superintendent of schools. “It’s putting off a day of reckoning. Things are going to be potentially catastrophic in 2011 unless schools get some other source of relief.”"