SRVUSD Projects $17M Shortfall Next School Year

SAN RAMON VALLEY, CA — The San Ramon Valley Unified School District's proposed budget for the 2020-2021 school year indicates schools could face a $17 million shortfall in revenues versus expenditures.

News of the anticipated deficit comes as schools across California are reevaluating their budgets amid financial woes caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Board of Education will consider the revised budget at its Tuesday night meeting.

Also on Tuesday, parents have organized a sit-in at 4:30 p.m. at the SRVUSD office (699 Old Orchard Dr.). Parents are asked to wear face coverings and maintain distance between others, and encouraged to bring chairs and signs.

A parent organizer said there isn't enough detail about the proposals and questioned the district's plan to purchase five service trucks from Livermore Ford for $195,000 and unspecified Home Depot supplies for $129,000.

SRVUSD is required to spend three percent of its general fund on facility maintenance, hence the planned Home Depot and truck purchases, said district spokesperson Christopher George in an email.

The truck purchases are part of a multi-year effort to replace the 100 cars SRVUSD owns, George said. The Home Depot purchases are part of a money-saving open purchase order that gives the district immediate access to critical supplies without keeping inventory on hand, he said.

See the agenda for the 7 p.m. public meeting here.