Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees presented with 'budget stabilization plan' to counter deficit spending; Cherniss hired by Beverly Hills Unified School District

 A “budget stabilization plan” designed to reduce or eliminate deficit spending in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District was presented to trustees at a meeting earlier this month.

The plan, according to Joan Velasco, interim assistant superintendent of administrative services, relies heavily on personnel reductions because 85% of the district's expenses are employee salaries and benefits.

This year's deficit for the 22,700-student district is estimated at $11.4 million, rising to $14.5 million next year. The projected deficit for the year following then drops to close to $9 million.

No action was taken on the plan. A public hearing on next year's budget will be held June 3.

Velasco told trustees that the plan's goals are to “prioritize student success and maintain essential services” and “ensure fiscal responsibility by identifying non-essential areas for reductions, while minimizing negative impacts on students and staff.”

If implemented as outlined, the plan would save the district $8.4 million, reducing next year's deficit to nearly $9.6 million, based on the district receiving a 2.43% cost-of-living adjustment in state funding.

The deficit would drop to about $4 million the following year, based on a 3.52% cost-of-living increase, and a $2.4 million surplus would be realized in three years, based on a 3.63% cost-of-living increase.

However, a drop of just 1% in the cost-of-living adjustment from state funding would result in continued deficits in future years, projected at $6.9 million in 2026-27 and $3.4 million for 2027-28, instead of the $2.4 million surplus based on the 3.63% cost-of-living adjustment.

The district's end-of-year reserve balances are projected at 15% this year; 13.1% next year; 12.3% on June 30, 2027; and 13% on June 30, 2028, under the expected cost-of-living adjustments, and 15%, 13.1%, 11.6% and 10.8%, respectively, under the 1% reduction.

The state requires a 3% reserve and district policy seeks a minimum 5% reserve.

The plan's $8.4 million in reductions would be achieved by $6.5 million in certificated teacher salaries and benefits, with the remainder in classified and management salaries and benefits and various non-personnel reductions.

Personnel losses would include about 85 teaching, 4 classified and 5 management positions, including a few positions that are currently vacant. Some 94 probationary teachers have been notified of layoffs, and about 30 teachers are expected to retire by June 30.

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Beverly Hills Unified School District trustees named Alex Cherniss as superintendent April 10 on a 3-2 vote. He's scheduled to begin serving the 3,300-student, four-campus district June 1.

Cherniss began as superintendent of the Placentia-Yorba Linda district May 1, 2023, on a 5-0 vote. His contract was amended to require four votes for dismissal Nov. 19 on a 3-2 vote, and he was placed on paid leave Dec. 19 on a 5-0 vote.

Incidents of 'uncivil behavior' lead to tougher wording in public comment policy for Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

 Incidents of “uncivil behavior” by members of the public during board of trustee meetings at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District have led board members to strengthen the wording of an announcement that's made before the public comment period at meetings.

Board President Marilyn Anderson introduced the revisions at a March meeting by noting that fights among audience members had nearly broken out while trustees were in closed session and that people had been followed to their cars in the parking lot.

Stronger wording in the public comment announcement was recommended by Placentia police officials, according to Assistant Superintendent Renee Gray, who was the district's acting superintendent for a brief period earlier this year.

The two sections of strengthened wording were supplied by the board attorney, Todd Robbins. Trustee Tricia Quintero said the revisions, adopted on a 5-0 vote, will make people “feel safer.”

Among additions to the announcement is the sentence, “Individuals are reminded that they are expected to abide by the civility policy at all times while on district properties, including, but not limited to, hallways, restrooms and parking lots.”

The civility policy, as explained in the public comment announcement, is designed to promote “mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among district employees, parents and the public.”

The announcement also states: “This policy is not intended to deprive any person of his/her right to freedom of expression, but only to maintain, to the extent possible and reasonable, a safe, harassment-free environment.”

Added wording also states, “Any individual who, during a school board meeting, disrupts with violence or threatens to disrupt with violence school/office operations or threatens the safety of any individual attending or participating in the board meeting will be reported to the police immediately.”

The stronger police- and attorney-recommended section replaces prior wording that merely stated such individuals “will be directed to leave school or school district property promptly.”

Another new section reads, “Additionally, if there are any disruptions or interference of the board's ability to conduct its meeting, the disruptive parties will be given one warning. If the disruption continues, you'll be informed that the board president has found you disruptive in violation of (penal and education code sections).”

Then, “the board president will order you removed from the meeting (under a government code section). If removing one or several disruptive parties does not restore order, the board pres-ident will exercise their authority to clear the room in accordance with (the government code section).”

Remaining in place is the speaker time allotment, with a maximum of three minutes, sliding to two minutes for 11 to 15 speakers, 1.5 minutes for 16 to 30 speakers and one minute for 31 or more speakers.