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8-20 Big Pine begins school year with mixed emotions |
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Thursday, 20 August 2009 |
By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
School started yesterday for students in Big Pine, and it has just received a last-minute budget cut by the state.
The Big Pine Unified School District, which recently celebrated the high school’s centennial and is eager to see the kids return to class, is also dealing with cuts from the state that were implemented after the school had drafted its own budget.
“The financial news is balanced against our excitement about seeing the students again,” Pamela Jones, superintendent of the BPUSD, said Tuesday.
Jones explained that BPUSD had been holding its own through the state budget crisis since it a basic aid school, meaning it gets funding primarily through property tax, unlike Bishop schools that rely on state funding based on pupil attendance.
“We hadn’t been getting any cuts so far,” Jones said, but the state needed to trim more from the budget and began looking at basic aid schools.
Representatives for basic aid school associations, of which BPUSD is not a member, Jones said, had cut a deal with lawmakers to take a funding reduction in categorical programs, or grant money from the state that goes to fund specific programs, in lieu of the state “messing” with property taxes.
This all came after the school district’s budget had been drafted.
To make matters worse, Inyo County Assessor Tom Lanshaw has told Jones property tax revenue is expected to go up or down 1-2 percent. Jones said she had budgeted for a zero change.
“So, now we’re in a similar boat as Bishop schools,” Jones said. “We’re having to economize, and streamline.”
One way the school district is doing that is by running one bus with an increased schedule, instead of two. She said she had also been looking for an administrative assistant with 30 applications in hand, but she’s not sure whether she’ll be able to fill the position now.
She explained the real effect of the cuts will be felt next year.
That doesn’t mean the school is skimping on any programs; in fact it has gotten a recent facelift and is going “virtual.”
Last year was the pilot year for Big Pine High School to use the virtual classroom, offering students classes on-line, and the high school will be going full bore with the program this year. Jones explained that the virtual classes offer flexibility for the students’ schedule in addition to offering them classes not available on campus. The classes are individualized to the student’s needs and the student can receive high school and community college credits.
Students were also greeted at their first day of school by the school’s new paint job and an Americans with Disabilities Act approved parking lot and walkways. “The place is really beautiful,” Jones said.
And students were greeted by some new faces, as Alex Fabbro was hired as the new middle school teacher, Heather Burror as the new long-term substitute teacher for second grade and Katie Fowler as the new school counselor.
Kids eat well at Big Pine too. Nutritionist and school cook Judy Chirrick offers a healthy array of fresh fruit and snacks for kids, along with the regular menu.
“We’re offering different, healthy choices for lunches and snacks,” Jones said, “and we’re trying to entice the kids to stay on campus at lunch.”
The school will even offer a gardening club this year, so kids can get their hands dirty.
And, Jones said she was proud to say the district will continue to offer music to elementary students.
The district is holding its Back to School Night and barbecue tomorrow at 6 p.m. Jones encourages parents and students to attend and see the facilities and meet the new faces.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 September 2009 )
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