Central Coast school districts prepare for Governor Newsom’s proposed budget cuts

ORCUTT, Calif. - Governor Gavin Newsom announced several proposed budget cuts Thursday, one of the bigger ones affecting schools.

Newsom is proposing about $7 billion in cuts to public K-12 schools from what they got in the last budget.

He's hoping though, that the state won't have to make the cut at all, pending federal stimulus funding.

School districts are preparing for the worst case budget scenario, along with the possibility of remote learning continuing in fall.

Both the Lompoc and Orcutt school districts say they are keeping their budget focus on the kids.

"If we do need to reevaluate our priorities, they will be the things that are the furthest away from the classroom and the furthest away from students," said Bree Valla of the Lompoc Unified School District.

"If there is no federal stimulus package, we're talking bare bones," said Dr. Debbie Blow, superintendent of the Orcutt Union School District. "We're talking about just the basic things that we need to do, the most important educational pieces."

The Orcutt Union School District said it will need some additional funds if remote learning continues. That money would help to cover technology and also wifi hotspots for families without it.

Lompoc said it will not expand some programs as previously planned.

Both districts said they hope congress will consider the stimulus package because of education funding. They said that children are our future, and need to be considered a priority in the budget.