NEWS
FEBRUARY 4, 2011
SIGNAL TRIBUNE
13
1827 E. Spring Street West of Cherry, long Beach open: mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm
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Cutbacks continued from page 1
million over two years. Therefore, even if California voters decide to extend current taxes, the 429 eliminated teaching positions in Long Beach would likely not be restored. The school board also discussed, but did not act upon, roughly $45 million in additional cuts that they will reconsider Feb. 15. Those cuts, along with the ones approved this week, will affect a wide array of programs, resulting not only in larger class sizes, school closures and hundreds of layoffs of teachers, but also job losses for central office staff, school administrators, librarians, nurses, psychologists, counselors and others. About $10 million in savings would come from reductions at the central office, which has already seen deep cuts in recent years. Instructional programs, school safety, sports, music, transportation and other services would be affected, in some cases significantly. Proposed cuts to transportation, for instance, would eliminate all home-to-school transportation except for legally required specialeducation busing.
The larger class sizes approved by the school board this week mean that for grades six to 12, average class sizes would increase by three students to 35. For grades kindergarten through three, classes would increase by between five and 10 students (depending on the school) for an average of 30 students per class. The increased class sizes will save the school district about $26 million. At the same meeting this week, the school board also considered, but did not vote upon, a preliminary certificated layoff resolution detailing the kinds of services to be reduced or eliminated for the upcoming school year. The preliminary resolution identified roughly 621 positions, or “fulltime equivalents,” for possible elimination. The resolution is scheduled to be considered for board action on Feb. 15. The cuts approved this week include the closures of Burroughs and Buffum elementary schools after this school year, due to the budget crisis and declining enrollment. As part of LBUSD’s continued cost-cutting efforts, school district staff had been examining the possible closure of smaller schools to improve efficiency. Burroughs and Buffum will close because they have rela-
tively small numbers of students. Buffum, located at 2350 ximeno Ave., has 295 students. Burroughs, located at 1260 E. 33rd St. in Signal Hill, has 291 students. In both cases, other nearby schools have the capacity to serve the displaced students. Declining enrollment districtwide
has exacerbated budget woes because schools receive most of their funding based on student attendance. The small numbers of students at Burroughs and Buffum have reduced the efficiency of those schools. LBUSD’s enrollment has declined by about 14,000 students over the past decade.
In light of the decision to close the two schools, the school board also approved revised school attendance boundaries so that nearby schools can accommodate the displaced students. ----------------------------------MORE InFORMATIOn lbschools.net
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TST3661 2175 Cherry avenue • Signal Hill, Ca 90755-3799 notiCe of a PuBliC Hearing notiCe iS HereBy given, that the City Council of the City of Signal Hill will hold a Public Hearing in the City Council Chamber at City Hall located at 2175 Cherry avenue, Signal Hill, California, on tuesday, february 15, 2011, at 7:00pm to consider the following: annual reneWal of tHe inStitutional PerMit for: Courtyard Care Center 1880 dawson avenue Signal Hill, Ca 90755
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las Brisas Child Care Center long Beach Community improvement league 2399 California avenue Signal Hill, Ca 90755 all intereSted PerSonS are hereby invited to attend and express their opinions on the above matter. tHe PuBliC iS invited to submit written comments to the division of Building Safety prior to and at the Hearing. furtHer inforMation on this item may be obtained at the City of Signal Hill division of Building Safety located at 2175 Cherry avenue, Signal Hill, or by telephone at (562) 989-7347 or by email at rtao@cityofsignalhill.org.
________//ss//_________ rayMond tao ContraCt Building offiCial diviSion of Building Safety Published in the Signal tribune newspaper on: february 4, 2011 Posted in accordance with SHMC 1.08.010 on: february 4, 2011
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