Cuts hurt, but are needed

When all is said and done with this year’s budget, the best that can

be hoped for the Huntington Beach City School District sounds plenty

dire.

The district’s initial budget, released earlier this month,

includes a possible $3 million in cuts as a result of California’s

$30-billion budget crisis. To trim so much, Supt. Gary Rutherford has

had to make a host of wrenching decisions, including possibly

increasing class size in kindergarten through third-grade. That

decision could mean 52 teachers are out of jobs.

And the unfortunate list of cost-cutting suggestions goes on. Up

to a 10% reduction in classified management and employees is one

option. Cutting back hours for employees is another.

While all of the cuts may not be needed, school officials do admit

that deep cuts will have to be made.

But the saddest and most disturbing changes are sure to be in the

classroom. The increase in class size could easily boost the

student-to-teacher ratio by 50%, from 20 students per teacher to 30

students per teacher. As everyone who has stepped into a classroom

knows, the smaller the class and the more time teachers have to spend

on every student, the better.

Rutherford summed up the state of affairs in simple language: “We

are in a terrible position. We are having to implement some

devastating cuts to charter a course during the state budget crisis.”

Teachers and staff, not surprisingly, are concerned about their

future. In this tense environment, Rutherford deserves credit for

working hard to meet with his employees to ensure them that cuts will

not be made lightly or easily. And he deserves praise for being

realistic, but still hopeful as he works out needed cost-cutting.

“We are moving forward, preparing for the worst and hoping for the

best,” he said.

Such credit will be cold comfort, however, in the midst of this

budget storm, especially if, rather than turning out for the better,

it turns out for the worse.