Finances improving for high school district

The district will also pay more to introduce a seven-period day at three of its schools, a controversial proposal earlier this year.

Superintendent Sam Johnson said he hoped the state Legislature could reach a compromise in budget negotiations to restore the $2 billion the governor borrowed last year from Proposition 98 money, and said the district could not keep tightening its belt.

It has cut about $10 million in the last three years. Still, the district will have a balanced budget in 2005-2006 and a slight surplus in 2007-2008, to restore its reserves to 5 to 7 percent.

"We are at a bare minimum of reserves," said Trustee Peter Hanley. "I think we've got to look at our expenditures. If we hit a bump like we did in 2003-2004 we're going to be in a world of hurt."

Bob Arnold, the associate superintendent of business services, said he planned for a worst-case scenario and backed the budget he helped prepare.

In other business:

San Mateo High School parent Ann Douglas threatened to sue the district after her daughter Rekeshia Green was denied entry to the prom April 9. Green, driven by her aunt, thought the dance was at school. It was at the Gift Center in San Francisco, and she arrived more than an hour after it began, Johnson said. District rules barred her from entering, and the board backed that decision Thursday night. Green filed a $265 claim with the district for prom expenses and said, "You'll see me in court."

Board President Diane Vranes said she regretted it happened.

Stephen Baxter can be reached by e-mail at stephen@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.