Some Personnel Reductions to Go Forward but MBEF Fully Restores Library Resource Specialist Positions for 2020-21 When Conditions Allow In-Person Learning

Originally posted April 15, 2020
Updated June 17, 2020
​Updated June 29, 2020
​Updated July 8, 2020
Updated July 30, 2020

July 30, 2020
The MBUSD board of trustees voted to start the 2020-21 school year in distance learning mode and to return to in-person learning in phases. While no students are on campus library operations will be reduced to 50% of last year's services. Once a hybrid model or full-time on campus learning can commence library services will return to 100% of last year's operations thanks to a grant from MBEF.

July 8, 2020
Some good news! Our Library Resource Specialist positions (5 elementary, 1 middle school) were going to be reduced by 50% in the fall due to pre-Covid budget constraints. MBEF TO THE RESCUE! Part of the $1.1 million raised at the Manhattan Wine Auction will be used to fully restore the library positions in the fall -- IF school will be held on site at least in a hybrid manner (some direct instruction, some distance learning). All told, this means MBEF will provide about $7.5 million to enhance the educational experience of our students. Thank you! Thank You!! Thank You!!!

June 29, 2020
Because the approved CA state budget for 2020-21 will be the more flexible version, the MBUSD Board of Trustees was able to make no further cuts to elementary library services for the 2020-21 school year than were approved on June 17. On July 7 the Board of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation will meet to decide how the $1.1 million raised at the Virtual Wine Auction can be distributed to lessen the effects of existing program cuts. The recommendations will be presented to the MBUSD Board on July 8.

June 17, 2020
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to to reduce elementary library services by 50% for the 2020-21 school year. They discussed the need to make further reductions or to close the libraries due to the impact of the pandemic on state revenues. Further cuts will be announced at a special board meeting on June 29 at 5:00 p.m. The state budget is still being negotiated between the governor and the legislature.

• If the governor's budget goes forward then the board will need to make $1.3 million in further reductions. The board will not likely have the ability to make August reductions to certificated personnel, leaving all the cuts to fall on classified employees --which would total $700,000 in savings, falling short of the $1.3 million in reductions needed to balance the budget.
• If the legislature's more flexible budget goes forward no further cuts will need to be made for 2020-21. Much depends on federal money that may arrive in the fall, but has not yet been authorized.

Teacher Librarian Eliminated at Mira Costa High School. Work Hours Cut by 50% at Elementary and Middle School Libraries The MBUSD Board will proceed with reductions for the 2020-21 school year -- roughly 40 positions, including counselors, elementary P.E. teachers, and subject specialists for the 2020-2021 school year. The cuts, according to the district, will save $3.6 million to fix a budget deficit. Read more.
Further Reductions in Store The MBUSD budget for the next two years after that was never rosy and now with state revenues likely to suffer due to the pandemic shut-down, the district must brace for more reductions to come. It is projected that there will need to be 39 more positions eliminated in 2021-22 and another 25 more eliminated in 2022-23.