Declining student enrollment and one-time funding drying up are two main factors that are driving local school districts to tighten their belts. Pacific Grove Unified School District is no exception, projecting a deficit for the second year in a row, this year of more than $2 million. (Declining enrollment doesn’t impact PGUSD financially since it’s funded by property tax revenue, rather than state compensation per-pupil.)
“Incremental adjustments are no longer sufficient. Addressing this deficit requires meaningful, difficult action,” according to a presentation by administrators to the PGUSD board on Thursday, Feb. 12.
The board is considering two options that could save $1.1 million or $881,773. Both eliminate three teacher positions – two in elementary, including a Spanish teacher, and one high school teacher from Pacific Grove Community High School, an alternative school for teens 16 and older – as well as reduce summer school for elementary students.
Option A would also cut librarian and digital arts media teacher positions, while Option B proposes keeping both. The district would maintain its mental health technician for one more year by using Medi-Cal funds.
“The priority and criteria have been to protect and prioritize core and necessary instruction and programs,” Superintendent Linda Adamson says.
Cutting a full-time teacher from P.G. Community High means the school would lose 40 percent of its teaching staff. At a PGUSD board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, some students spoke up in opposition, saying that attending the school was a life-changing experience. Hunter Hopkins said she attended several schools and had a 1.4 GPA before enrolling at PGCHS. “From the beginning, I felt included, challenged and excited about my learning career,” Hopkins said, noting she’s graduating soon with a 3.9 GPA.
District officials host a community forum at the PGHS library from 6-7:30pm on Tuesday, Feb. 24, before the board votes on cuts on Feb. 26.