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Schools eye buying back furlough days

Students and teachers in the Sonoma Valley Unified School District could be getting back five furlough days when the school board meets tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Because the district received more than $2.3 million in former redevelopment agency funds including more than $1.1 million in continuing money and $1.2 million in one-time money, the school board is being asked to use almost $1 million to rebuy the five remaining furlough days the board instituted when it made some $2.6 million in cuts last January. Three additional furlough days would be restored to offer staff development in the summer.

Some of the money, $185,000 would also be used to address the district’s deficit this year.

The board will be asked to use more than $1.2 million in one-time money to reinstitute a number of other cuts it made last January including increasing the custodial staff for 2012-13 and 2013-14; funding educator professional learning for 2013-14 and 2014-15; reinstate class reduction in grades K-3 in 2013-14; fund the freshman teams in 2013-14 and 2014-15; and additional funding for elementary school libraries in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Justin Frese, the district’s deputy superintendent, said the amount of one-time money being spent is a little more than what the district received, but said the figures are estimates and could come in at a lower figure.

The board will also hear an update on the principal search for the high school; approve the new five-year charter for the Woodland Star Charter School; receive an update on the freshmen teams and receive a report on the school site safety plans.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, Feb. 12, in the Community Meeting Room, 177 First St. W.