San Diego schools Superintendent Cindy Marten on Tuesday presented a final budget for the 2014-15 school year, a $1.2 billion plan that would reduce class size, reopen elementary school libraries and put teachers back in the classroom.
Class sizes in grades kindergarten through third would be reduced from 27 students per teacher to 25 per teacher and libraries would be reopened in all elementary schools. No teachers would be laid off, but some would return to classrooms from other duties.
“This budget focuses on students first and makes a down payment on their future. It reduces class sizes and puts more teachers back in the classroom,” Marten said at at press conference at San Diego Unified School District headquarters.
Meeting the press with her were board president Kevin Beiser and board member John Lee Evans. The budget will go to the full board Tuesday afternoon and is expected to be approved.
The budget makes up for a $106 million shortfall in state funding with property sales, central office savings, early retirements and by putting support teachers back in the classroom.
Other highlights of the budget are:
- Restores the school calendar to 180 instructional days
- Fully funds the Common Core curriculum
- Includes $227 million in facility upgrades and expansions
- Maintains current level of funding for arts and athletics
While the budget is balanced, Marten said funding for schools remains inadequate. “While we must live within our means, we recognize the that funding for public education in California is woefully inadequate,” she said.
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