Funding Flux: $42 Cut per Student, Transportation Funding Restored

Many school districts in rural areas across the state cheered as Senate Bill 81 passed both legislative houses: the would be restored. The Catch 22? This cut would be allocated to revenue limit districts, like the .

Assemblymembers, like Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) argued that the $248 million transportation cut would disproportionately impact rural and low income students, while an overall cut to revenue limit districts would be a more “equitable reduction.”

Revenue limit districts are ones that rely on government funding to match a formulated state amount, $4,750 in 2010-2011 for Redwood City students specifically. Basic aid districts like the don’t need the additional government funding because the amount is met and then some through revenue from property taxes from the surrounding area.

Should the governor sign the bill, which many expect him to do, there will be another round of funding cuts of $42 per student in the district this year, according to Superintendent Jan Christensen.

The superintendent said she has been speaking with the Redwood City Teacher's Association to see how the district and the teachers can deal with this additional funding cut. The overall cut to the district may mean an elimination of a teacher work day, not an actual school day, according to Peter Clifford of the Association.

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