Through the Governor's Performance Award, the two schools have received monetary awards for their students' high scores on the Academic Performance Index (API) test.

The high school received $30,574 and the elementary school received $17,444 in the fall of 2002. The monies were intended for extra equipment and supplies. But with Gov. Gray Davis' purposed cuts, these funds may be applied toward the schools' regular budget.

"We left our money in limbo," said Booksin Elementary Principal Sharon Roddick. "We're waiting to see what the district says in light of the governor's budget cuts."

Mark Cahn, head of the science department at Willow Glen High School and member of the WGHS school site council, said, "We still haven't felt the full impact of the budget cuts."

Willow Glen High School Principal Elaine Farace said faculty and department heads created an initial list of needed items, which included $1,000 for some computer equipment, $3,000 for the English department, $7,000 for safety and laboratory equipment for the science department, and $6,000 for the athletic department to buy a seven-man tackling sled for the football team.

These departments have waited since the fall to purchase these supplies * now it looks as if the wait may be longer.

Each time the schools win the Governor's Performance Award, the faculty and department heads create a needs list. This list is then submitted to each school's school site council, which is made up of teachers, administrators, parents and students. Once the council approves the list, it is submitted to the district for approval.

An itemized list for the high school had already gone through the faculty-to-council-to-district process. But in mid-December these requests were stalled, while the district revised its midyear budget.

On Jan. 10 the governor's budget proposal addressed a $35 billion deficit with $20.7 billion in budget cuts to state departments, including a $4.5 billion cut in the department of education.

The elementary and high schools will know more about their budgets on Feb. 3, when the SJUSD trustees meet and discuss the district budgets. Until the severity of these midyear cuts are determined, the schools plan to sit on the awards.

"Booksin could spend its money now," Roddick said. "But we're choosing to wait."

After the school is provided a revised budget, Farace said, the school will assess its needs and if there's any money left over, the high school will purchase items that were originally on the awards wish list.