The Mariposa County Unified School District Board of Trustees took another painful step toward balancing its budget on April 22. During the special meeting, the board cut hours and full positions from its classified staff.

Before the board took action, however, members of the Classified School Employees Association (CSEA) let members know they didn’t think the cuts were made fairly.

Jon Stewart said his association understands that cuts are necessary in the current budget climate. “We get that there are going to have to be some cuts,” he said. “We want to see our fair share of cuts, not the full share.”

Stewart said the cuts will reduce services to staff and students. He said the 2.38 full-time equivalent positions slashed from custodial services will leave the district dealing with “feces, lice, vomit, flu and bacteria” daily. He asked that the entire district share in the sacrifice.

Acting Superintendent Aaron Rosander said sharing the pain is key. “I couldn’t agree more,” he told Stewart. We are stretched out. The truth is, we have to come together. I’m desperate for people to engage with us” in solving the looming deficit.

“We can’t go it alone,” Rosander said of administration and the board. “We’re in the middle of the biggest crisis the state has ever faced. The budget shortfall is real.”

Rosander said that cuts are “necessary” now so that the district can properly notify people that they may not have jobs next year. He said the decision “absolutely can be changed” as the budget picture becomes more clear. Most of the positions slated for cuts are part of reorganizations that the district is undertaking to streamline operations.

For example, the 32.25 hours slated to be cut from food services will be reallocated to a different funding source. The same is true for a clerk and transportation services position.

Board member Joe Cardoso commented, “Everybody’s got to take a hit if we’re to survive.” Rosander said the district continues to consider its options as it waits for the state’s May budget revision.

If things get worse, the district could change drastically in the coming years. Rosander said the possibility of school consolidation is there, as is “radically changing” academic programs.

“At this point, it’s unavoidable,” Rosander said of change. “We’ve cut the living daylights out of our academic program. We’ve chopped and chopped and chopped. It’s caught up with us.”

The board voted unanimously to cut the proposed positions and hours. It also discussed the Grizzly Stadium project at length. The board had heard a previous presentation on the project at its regular meeting and was considering some of the issues it must deal with in advance of the project beginning.