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There was more bad news about the high school budget when the Los GatosSaratoga Joint Union High School District board met for the first time this school year.
Chief Business Officer Bob Peterson reported that because the district will receive less money than anticipated from the state, the current projected budget deficit for the 200203 school year is about $75,000. The initial budget deficit had been projected at $14,290. And should budget challenges continue in the 200304 school year, that deficit is expected to increase to about $225,000.
There was no board discussion following Peterson's announcement, but a budget advisory committee will meet Sept. 17 to discuss the issue.
Interestingly, Assistant Principal Dan Fowler reported that Los Gatos High School's projected enrollment of about 1,599 jumped unexpectedly to roughly 1,610, causing the need for five new classes to be added.
Assistant principals Fowler and Gail Wasserman were filling in for Los Gatos High School Principal Trudy McCulloch and Saratoga High School Principal Kevin Skelly, who both had prior commitments and were absent.
During her report, Superintendent Cindy Ranii reminded board members to include in their discussions the two student board representatives, Dinah Chandy from Los Gatos High School and Marissa Byrne from Saratoga High School.
"Their task is to provide continual input to the board," Ranii said.
She added that the student representatives, who were elected in May for a one-year term, strengthen the relationship between the students and board members. As student body officers, they also offer a voice for their respective student constituents, as well as advise the board on matters related to student affairs and provide information about student activities.
The superintendent's secretary, Pat Salsman, said the students are allowed to vote, but they have a "preferential vote," meaning that their votes can be taken into consideration by board members. The students' votes are recorded in the board minutes, but they don't have any official bearing on the outcome made by board members. By November or December, Salsman said, the student representatives are no longer shy about speaking up and voicing their thoughts on issues.
"All of the student representatives have been just delightful," Salsman said. "They really take an interest."
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