California schools facing bleak fiscal future

A clearer—and more ominous—picture emerged Monday of California school districts’ struggles to balance their budgets in preparation for a potential $4.8 billion state funding shortfall.

Districts around the state met two deadlines Monday (March 17, 2008): They were required to notify employees of possible layoffs and they had to report their financial data to county offices of education.

The California Department of Education estimated that nearly 20,000 employees received early termination notices, with at least one district— Placentia Yorba-Linda Unified—offering a $1,000 bonus to employees who retire or resign by April 1. At least 14 Los Angeles-area school districts reported that they might not be able to avoid running a deficit over the next two years. Read about the dire budget situation in The Los Angeles Times online.