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Students at Valencia Elementary school in Aptos board a school bus.... (Phil Carter/Sentinel file)
WATSONVILLE - Did you hear a heavy sigh around Santa Cruz County schools on Wednesday?
That was the sound of educators coming to grips with a new round of state funding cuts that will take $327 million from California's K-12 system before school year ends, two-thirds of the hit coming from school bus funding.
Pajaro Valley Unified stands to lose an estimated $1.3 million for its transportation program, and another $221,000 in funding based on student attendance, according to Chief Business Officer Brett McFadden.
"On the one hand, the hit is not as great as it could have been, and I'm expressing relief," McFadden said. "On the other hand, it's still $1.5 million in ongoing reductions in the context of five years of $17 million in cuts, no increases from the state, and cost pressures so I still come back to the issue of this state continues to expect world-class results from students but