Parlier Unified Schools Superintendent Rick Rodriguez says the district is doing the best job it can to provide the best educational program for students -- despite huge cuts in funding.
Just in the last 18 months the state has reduced the districts average daily attendance funding from $64-hundred dollars to $48-hundred. A difference of $16-hundred dollars per student.
The district is one of four in Fresno County to receive a qualified certification by the State Department of Education ... meaning, the district may not meet its financial obligations before the end of the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Larry Powell, Fresno County Superintendent said, "Nobody is in the negative ... the four we have are self-qualified, so that means they are taking an honest look at their budgets."
Powell says the classification is largely due the state cuts to education, but does not mean the districts are in serious financial trouble.
"These four districts are making the kind of choices I would want them to make ... they are looking at their numbers in a very honest way ... they are setting targets for what they need to cut ... they're in the process of making the necessary cuts," said Powell.
According to the Parlier Unified's three year projections -- the district is financially solvent -- and will operate in the black, at least for the next two school years.
"I'm elated, I'm very happy that our district is here with this ending balance in 2009/10 I'm happy that were here because we're not showing deficit, but we need to make some adjustments -- we cannot ignore that," said Rodriguez.
The district has already cut 22 certificated positions and is looking at other cost saving measures.
Superintendent Powell says a second financial report just now being completed shows West Park Elementary School District has moved off the list.
