CUSD to Hear Public's Input on Budget

The , facing a , has scheduled a forum for Thursday to get the public’s input on how to deal with the massive, expected deficit.

District officials published the press release just Tuesday. Originally there was no community forum planned for this year, .

The district has already identified  without having to negotiate with its three unions.

That still leaves $40 million in cuts that must be found by the end of the month, when state law says public school districts must have a balanced budget approved for the coming school year.

The school is planning for what it defines as the “worst-case scenario,” meaning the hit public schools throughout the state will take if voters don’t pass the temporary tax increase California  is proposing for the November ballot.

If voters do approve the initiative, the district will be able to restore $18 million of the cuts.

The proposed cuts the district would have to include:

• Increasing class sizes and laying off teachers
• Unpaid furlough days (which will impact the student calendar)
• A freeze on automatic salary advances
• Salary rollbacks

“While most of this information has already been shared during regularly scheduled board meetings and during meetings with parent and employee groups, this discussion will give the community an additional opportunity to learn more about the budget for the 2012-13 school year,” a notice on the district’s website states. 

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the district headquarters, 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.

Because the district had not initially planned on a community forum this year, .