Montecito Union Latest

During a special meeting last week, Montecito Union’s school board discussed several important issues at length, all related to the recent mudslide and its effect on the school’s finances, enrollment, and facility updates. 

Unlike 95% of elementary schools in California, MUS is a basic aid funded school, meaning that its revenues come from District property taxes instead of funds from the State. The school’s budget is based upon a 4% increase in property values per year, according to chief business officer Virginia Alvarez, who reported that reassessments of property values are currently being conducted. “We are going to take a hit,” she said. With approximately 124 homes destroyed in the disaster – and hundreds more damaged – it’s likely that property tax revenue to the County will decrease by at least $12 million, which means MUS will have less funding in the coming years. 

The current student population at MUS is 401, and with more students in upper grades than lower grades, it’s estimated that enrollment will decrease next year, not taking into account families that may leave the District for good following the mudslides. Alvarez reported that it is unlikely that the student population will grow in the next several years, which means fewer teachers and staff members will be needed. The board discussed the possibility of letting go of four teachers following the current school year, cutting the number of classrooms from 26 to 22. Doing so would bring the average class size to 17, according to the board. A meeting on Tuesday, February 20, will further discuss the plan to reduce the number of teachers and staff members. 

The board also discussed the fate of students and families no longer living in the District since the mudslides. After hearing from several parents and having a lengthy discussion on the issue, they voted to allow interdistrict transfers for all students who were enrolled before the mudslide event, through the 2018-19 school year. If a family has a younger student who is eligible for enrollment in the 2018-19 school year (transitional kindergarten or kindergarten), the younger student will also be eligible for an interdistrict transfer for 2018-19. The vote included continuing the discussion in September, to determine if families may be able to stay longer than 2018-19. “What we want to do is provide people with what we can be certain of. This does not mean we will not do more later,” said board member Chad Chase. 

“I think a lot of the comments that are being made point out that there are a lot of variables, and there are probably really creative solutions that we haven’t come up with tonight, yet, to address the needs of different people who are living different scenarios,” said board president Gwyn Lurie. “Every student is our student, and every family is our family, and we need to find a way to help people find their way back here and finish school here, if that’s what they choose to do.” 

The vote was 4-1, with board member Peter van Duinwyk dissenting. Van Duinwyk made clear his position on the issue: that families displaced because their home is uninhabitable should be allowed to finish out their time at MUS, subject to financial constraints of the District. The discussion will continue when more information is available in September. 

Lastly, the board voted to delay work on several facility projects until the fiscal future of the school becomes clearer. The north and south parking lot expansions and playground improvements will be delayed, while the project to secure the perimeter of the school will move forward, even if it is temporary in nature. The District will also continue preparation of construction documents related to the safety upgrades of two buildings, in order to procure State funding for those projects. 

MUS superintendent Dr. Anthony Ranii said that given the current traffic congestion and influx of trucks on San Ysidro Road, he prefers delaying the projects. “I don’t necessarily want to compete with finding construction crews right now,” he said. “I’d rather let them rebuild homes right now.”