“We’ve started by asking the central offices and centrally-funded programs to cut their budgets by at least 15%, and in some cases more,” said Bill Kowba, Interim Superintendent.
“We’ve run a number of scenarios that provide the Board with close to $100 million in options. These are not easy changes to consider. Every department is affected. No one is hidden, and no one is insulated.”
With the Board now considering these scenarios, school workbooks are on their way to the school sites. A budget workbook workshop is planned for all principals on Monday, March 3. Another budget workshop for the Board of Education will be held Friday, March 7. Additional key dates regarding budget development are available online.
Ideas for budget cutting and revenue generation are still welcome and encouraged. More than 2,000 suggestions 
for budget reductions and revenue generation have been received online from staff, parents and community members. Several of the suggestions have led to scenarios presented to the Board at earlier workshops, and which will be subject to vote at the March 11 meeting. These include cellphone initiatives, selected bell times to save transportation costs, restructuring scenarios for OCILE and class size changes.
To see how other districts in San Diego County and throughout California are responding to the budget crisis, visit the Newsroom on the Budgeting for 2008-09 website on www.sandi.net.