The April 30 memo outlines nearly $72 million in savings. One of the only programs spared was the Innovation Division, a program championed by Supt. David L. Brewer as a signature new reform effort. According to that document, the department would receive an additional $1.4 million.
Ramon Cortines, the district's new senior deputy superintendent, said he has recommended trims to nearly every department, including the Innovation Division. "I do not think we should be setting up fiefdoms," he said. Additionally, Cortines has said he believes the deep cuts should come from the central office -- not the schools.
Because of the recent payroll fiasco, in which teachers were paid too little, too much or not at all, Cortines recommended that departments working with payroll could be some of the few exceptions from reductions. But, he said, once that situation stabilizes, he wants those departments to reduce expenditures by 30%.
In a memo dated Thursday to Brewer and the board, Cortines said the central office and local districts have exceeded their target of identifying cuts of $44 million, which would put 1,500 jobs at risk. During his review of the budget, Cortines identified another $11.3 million of potential savings, including trimming the Board of Education's budget by 10%.
Brewer and other board members said they would continue to lobby legislators to increase education funding. Brewer said he plans a trip to Sacramento within a week to speak with Schwarzenegger and other lawmakers.
Many other districts continued to try to deal with potential cuts this week even after the latest proposed budget because they are unsure if it will be approved. Legislators have voiced concerns about the budget and could debate it until late summer. But school districts must submit balanced budgets by June 30.
The Westminster school district in Orange County was facing a $3.4-million shortfall and approved $2.5 million in cuts Wednesday night.
"It doesn't seem like the situation has changed significantly enough not to continue doing what we need to do to be fiscally responsible," said Trish Montgomery, a district spokeswoman.
And the Capistrano Unified School District notified 234 teachers Wednesday that they would not have jobs next year, although they could be rehired during the summer if the financial picture changes.
"It's frustrating for me because it's forcing me to make some decisions I didn't want to make," said Justine Lang, a seventh-grade English teacher at Los Flores Middle School who said she is considering leaving the profession. "I'm not ready to leave the classroom."
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jason.song@latimes.com
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seema.mehta@latimes.com
