School District Hosts Budget Forum Tonight

Over the past few years, as the has faced a due to state cuts, rising enrollment-driven costs and stagnant property tax revenue, district officials have found ways to avoid significantly impacting the high quality of local public education.

But with a projected $2.3 million budget deficit for 2012-2013, on top of a $700,000 projected deficit this school year, district officials say the . The district is hosting a budget forum for parents tonight and again on Nov. 7 to both educate parents about the budget and solicit ideas for ways to reduce the budget.

“We are now facing a dire economic outlook that could significantly affect your child's classroom, unless we actively work together to maintain the excellence found in our schools,” Superintendent Paul Johnson wrote to parents in an email late last month. “Without shared sacrifice, we risk increasing class sizes and losing special programs that make our schools unique.”

In additional to possible cuts and even more reliance on the fundraising efforts of Kiddo and the Mill Valley Council, district officials are also considering going to voters to .

The 411: The Parent Budget Forum is tonight at 7 p.m. in the library. A second forum takes place on Mondaym Nov. 7 at 9 a.m. in the Mill Valley Middle School conference room (next to the library).