Week in review

South San Francisco Unified School District is facing a $4.3 million budget deficit. Part of the tiered-cut approach includes increasing class sizes through teacher layoffs, losing arts programs and reductions in summer school programs. In January, the Board of Trustees approved salary increases for many higher district positions, a decision many took issue with last night as the district prepares to make large cuts later this year. In closed session last night, officials who were granted the increases agreed to have any increase during this school year returned to the district general fund — a move that caused applause. Despite this, there are concerns from teachers that the district does not have a united front when dealing with budget issues.

"Let the light in; let the sun shine on all the parts of our work together,” said Jan Speller, South San Francisco California Teachers’ Association president. "Come out from behind your PowerPoint slides and engage in a dialogue with us in a genuine, direct manner.”

South San Francisco is projecting a $71.3 million budget next year, a 5 percent decrease from last year.

Police investigating woman’s death as homicide

The death of a 47-year-old woman whose body was found pierced with stab wounds in her Redwood City apartment Tuesday afternoon is being treated as a homicide, a police captain said Thursday.

Officers had responded to Alycia Williams’ home at an apartment complex at 707 Leahy St. at about 4:30 p.m. after a family member requested a welfare check on Williams because she hadn’t been seen for several days, Redwood City police Capt. Ron Matuszak said.

When they arrived, the officers found Williams dead inside her apartment, according to Matuszak. Police believe she had been dead for more than a day.

Due to "the nature of her stab wounds,” her death has been labeled a homicide, Matuszak said.

Colleges likely to seek parcel tax

San Mateo County residents will likely be asked to support a parcel tax to help keep its three community colleges from having to make drastic cuts to teachers and courses.

The San Mateo County Community College District faces a $7 million shortfall and may slash its subsidy to KCSM television and radio, shut the Coastside Center and reduce summer school offerings to balance its budget.

The district has until March 11 to submit a ballot measure for the upcoming June election. The district will likely ask residents to vote for a parcel tax somewhere in the range of $35.

There are 220,000 parcels in the county. Minus an exemption for seniors, the parcel tax would generate about $6 million a year over a four-year period, if the district follows the advice of Brian Godbe, who surveyed 600 residents to determine if there was support for a parcel tax.

Sequoia superintendent to retire

After over seven years of leading the Sequoia Union High School District, Superintendent Pat Gemma announced this week he will retire this summer.

Gemma, 60, considered leaving previously but felt the district was in a stable place now for him to take on new challenges.

"It has been a privilege to have served the Sequoia district and the community for the past seven years,” he said. "Our schools are such valuable community resources, and the Sequoia district is fortunate to have an engaged and supportive community.”

Gemma leaves after seven and a half years with the district. On Wednesday, the Board of Trustees will begin discussing plans for finding a new superintendent.

Gemma joined the district in February 2003 after five years in the Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District.