School superintendents throughout East County are tightening their fiscal belts as they brace for another year of sinking finances and impending cuts.

“The state of California is in a crisis, and as a result, so are we,” said Byron Union School District Superintendent Eric Prater. “We are down to the bone marrow of our programs for kids … we’ll continue to provide an excellent education for our children, but it’s going to painful; there have been a lot of sleepless nights.”

Last year, Prater cut $750,000 from his district’s annual budget and this year he expects those numbers to rise to $850,000 for the 2010-11 school year. Prater has managed to save approximately $200,000 in this year’s budget thanks to the collective agreement of his teachers and staff to agree to take five furlough days per year – Prater included. And he has taken a proactive approach to the crisis by scheduling a series of budget road shows to enlighten the community and his staff regarding what the future might hold in terms of layoffs and additional budget cuts.

Prater said that for now, there will be no mid-year layoffs, although cuts to some school programs might be implemented down the road.

The news is much the same in the Oakley Union School District, where Superintendent Rick Rogers plans to cut $1.6 million from the district budget by the start of the 2010-11 school year. Last year, $2.9 million was slashed from the district’s fiscal budget, which included teacher and support-staff layoffs, plus reductions in school programs.

This year, Rogers said, doesn’t look much better: He expects to lay off approximately 16 staff positions, but hopes that a yes vote from his teachers to take six furlough days per year will prevent more than the potential 16 layoffs.

Rogers has also taken his budget plans to the street, visiting individual schools to discuss the district’s future.

“It’s the right thing to do,” he said of the public forums. “The staff and parents deserve to hear from the superintendent about what the deal is, and hopefully it will motivate them to generate positive action for some positive change … Basically it’s a tribute to the professionalism of people in our district, because the classified teachers, administrators – everyone – all suck it up and work the long hours to get the job done.”

According to Scott Anderson, chief business official with the Brentwood Union School District, this is the district’s third consecutive year of cuts – and by far the deepest. “The fact is that we’re looking at $1.9 million in cuts for the 2010-11 year,” said Anderson. “With a $20 billion state deficit and $8½ billion of that coming out of schools, yes, I would say things are risky right now.”

Anderson said the district plans to implement its cuts in three phases to minimize the impact to students and staff, but added there is every likelihood that dozens of teachers will receive pink slips before the year is out: “We will have 22 less full-time teachers than we have now; 22 jobs will be gone as a result of those cuts … yes, it’s very dramatic and unprecedented. Everyone has a tough job right now. Everyone is concerned.”

Jerry Glenn, who has been onboard as the Liberty Union High School District superintendent for just six months, said he’s still collecting and assembling a selection of 55 recommended cuts – to the tune of $3.8 million –to be presented to the school board in March. He recognizes times are tough, and at this point isn’t feeling especially optimistic.

“There is no reason for optimism right now, to be honest,” said Glenn. “I look around and see that everyone is hurting and there is no reason for us (school district) to expect that we shouldn’t have to tighten our belts. Right now our primary focus is on the $3.8 million in estimated cuts we have to make, and we are now to the point where we are beginning to pare down those cuts. The (school) board wants to make those cuts in three steps: March, April and then early June.

“I think our staff is on pins and needles, and I don’t blame them. No one is without apprehension, but I try to remind them that nothing is for certain yet and that we’ll do the best we can.”

Click here, for information about the Knightsen School District's struggle.