Payzant Unveils Schools Budget : $44-Million Increase in Proposal Marks a Big Change

Modest increases could be in store for several curriculum programs and for long-deferred maintenance, and teachers could see a 4.6% salary raise from the final proposed 1988-89 budget unveiled Friday by San Diego schools Supt. Tom Payzant.

Board of Education members spent several hours reviewing the $482.8-million document at a special meeting Friday, suggesting minor revisions for further discussion when the budget comes up again Tuesday for additional review. Final adoption of the budget will come Sept. 6.

The budget represents a $44.4-million increase and a drastic change psychologically from the final 1987-88 document, in which the board was forced to trim $10 million from educational programs because of state money cuts. Gov. George Deukmejian and state legislators this year agreed to increase general educational funding for kindergarten through 12th grade by 4.1%.

Among the major increases proposed by Payzant:

- $1.5 million in maintenance funds, which have seen no increase for several years.

- $1.1 million for instructional supplies, a 50% rise over the previous year.

- $2.04 million for special education programs for disabled children.

- $16.3 million for salary increases to be negotiated with employee associations.

Board members indicated general agreement with the long list of appropriations, although they emphasized that the San Diego Unified School District still has many under-funded programs as a result of years of widely fluctuating support from Sacramento. State funding accounts for almost 90% of the district’s total budget.

Further Explanation

Members asked Payzant to return Tuesday with further explanation for increases in the gifted and talented program, in secondary school athletics and in bilingual programs. A majority of the board also suggested a small increase of perhaps $50,000 in the secondary-school instrumental band program, although they will not support a substantial raise for fine arts as requested by the arts community.

Board member Kay Davis received little support for her suggestion that the district not begin subsidizing its 32 children’s centers, where preschoolers are given nutritional, health and educational support. State support for the centers no longer covers their costs, but Davis said the $368,000 proposed by Payzant sets a bad precedent by letting state legislators and the governor off the hook for the under-funding.

However, other board members agreed with Payzant that preschool child care is increasingly a strong national priority, especially in light of research that shows children receiving such care achieve more once they enter the regular school system. Even with the $368,000 from the district, the San Diego centers will have to trim $300,000 from their planned budget.