The governor's proposal for the $76 billion budget for the 2004­05 fiscal year drew the ire of several municipal and county officials from throughout the state—including San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales—for cutting $1.3 billion from money Sacramento sends to local governments.

But according to Rummelhoff, the district may not be taking as big a budgetary hit as first expected.

"Our staff is working through the governor's proposal," Rummelhoff said. "We were expecting a $10 million [budget] problem. But it looks like that may be cut by a third or a half. We may have been able to save three to five million."

Rummelhoff was quick to point out that the governor's budget proposal is just that—a proposal—and the school district final budget and the size of a possible deficit is still up in the air. The district has targeted several areas where money can be saved, including the possible closure of some schools, changes in the transportation (busing) system and the elimination of sixth period for middle schools.

"While we've had substantial cuts over the last two years, we've been able to keep it mostly out of the classroom," Rummelhoff said. "We've done a very good job at keeping the main thing in mind: student achievement."

Rummelhoff said that if the state budget proposal is approved, giving the district a little breathing room as far as the budget goes, his first priority would be to save the middle schools' sixth period.

"One of the critical issues is sixth-period middle school cuts. Based on the governor's proposal, we'll be able to avoid that. That would be my No. 1 priority," Rummelhoff said.

San Jose Unified School District trustee Carol Myers, who represents the Willow Glen neighborhood schools, concurred with Rummelhoff's assessment that the district would work to preserve the sixth period.

Rummelhoff, the district trustee for Area No. 5—which includes most of Almaden Valley—was elected president of the school board at the board's annual organizational meeting in December.