EASTSIDE CONSIDERS CUTS SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAN COULD SAVE $500,000.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The Eastside Union School District is considering $500,000 more in cuts for next fiscal year to help maintain the district's financial reserves above the 3 percent level mandated by state law.

The proposed cuts include slashing spending on conferences, supplies and equipment purchases, and not filling a teaching position and the curriculum director's post when they become vacant.

``We are still deficit-spending and spending out of savings. We can't continue that way or we will be below 3 percent,'' Superintendent Connie Webb said.

The board at Monday's meeting received a preliminary review of the $16 million 2002-03 budget that predicts ending the fiscal year June 30 with a $725,000 deficit and 3.06 percent reserve.

The board is scheduled to take action on the proposed cuts and adopt a final budget at its June 24 meeting.

Webb said the teaching position that is not being filled is held by an instructor who is quitting. The curriculum director is returning to teach in the classroom, Webb said.

The proposed cuts follow previous ones announced by the district. The district in May decided to return to all-day kindergarten, limit the number of students who ride buses to school and reduce classroom cleanings to save $256,000.

Eastside previously had an all-day kindergarten program but switched in the mid-1990s to half-day sessions when the schools became overcrowded.

Eliminating midday bus service and switching to an all-day kindergarten, increasing the distance from schools inside which no bus transportation will be provided, and laying off four bus drivers will produce savings of $145,000.

Reducing custodial service and eliminating seven part-time positions will save an additional $111,000, officials said.

The district also is considering whether to end district-run bus service and contract with a private firm, but no decision has been made yet.

Other cuts previously announced included reducing the Eastside Elementary School vice principal position from full time to part time, and not filling two teaching positions next school year.