School Board Recap: Budget Cuts and Drug Abuse

The Poway Unified School District Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Budget Update: Superintendent John Collins said the full feared "trigger cuts"—large cuts to education if the state failed to meet revenue projections—will not go into effect this year, according to Gov. Jerry Brown. The district, however, will be losing nearly $1.4 million in funding this year through cuts to transportation and attendance funding. Officials had estimated a total of about $9.6 million lost through the trigger cuts. The district has sufficient reserves to have avoided any cuts this year either way. Next year, based on the governor's proposed budget, the district will lose $1.8 million in transportation funding if proposed tax initiatives for education are approved in November. If they fail, or do not make it to the ballot, the district is looking at an estimated $11 million in cuts. The news is better than expected, Collins said, but uncertainty remains for next year's budget.

• Student Substance Abuse Forums: The district has planned three Parent Awareness Forums about substance abuse among students, with a focus on synthetic drugs such as spice and K2 (fake marijuana). The forums are free and open to parents and the community.
  
  • Rancho Bernardo High School: Jan. 25, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.
  • Del Norte High School: Feb. 1, 6-7:30 p.m. in the theatre.
  • Poway High School: Feb. 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, in partnership with the Poway High PTSA.

• 2010-11 California Healthy Kids Survey: In 2008, 92 percent of the students in the class of 2012 had never used prescription painkillers recreationally. Two years later, that percentage had dropped to 85 percent, according to a state survey of student behavior. Results of the survey, which quizzes students every two years, were presented at Tuesday's meeting (Editor's Note: The elementary and secondary results are attached to this story and available here.). The district has increased outreach about smoking, thanks to a grant, and about prescription drug abuse, but more needs to be done at the middle school level, said Elaine Cofrancesco, executive director of student support services. The survey requires parent permission, with about 70 percent participation. Board members agreed to consider instead making the survey opt-out, rather than opt-in, to increase participation rates. The concern with an opt-out system, Cofrancesco said, is that some parents may not be aware of what their children are being asked and object later.

Other notes:

• David Hu: The board had a moment of silence for Rancho Bernardo High School senior David Hu, 17, who on Jan. 5.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to note that the projected cuts for 2012-13 are $11 million, not $6 million.