Valley’s 2 Charter Schools Again Projecting Surpluses

For the second straight year, the San Fernando Valley’s two charter schools are projecting budget surpluses by year’s end, according to Los Angeles Unified School District documents released Tuesday.

Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, the Pacoima charter school, expects to have about $534,000 in its coffers by June 30, about half as much as last year, when the elementary school saved more than $1 million.

In the past year, the school has purchased two properties, restored salary cuts taken by teachers, administrators and other employees, and hired a part-time nurse. “Even with all that, we’re still saving,” said Yvonne Chan, the director of the school.

At Fenton Avenue Elementary in Lake View Terrace, Principal Joe Lucente said the school expects to save about $280,000. Fenton also has hired a counselor and psychologist this year.

Because Fenton’s enrollment is lower than Vaughn’s, the school receives less money than Vaughn and its surplus is smaller.

“We’re utilizing our income--as much as we can--so we can give our classrooms as much support as possible,” Lucente said.

Both charter schools operate independently of the district and are free to make their own decisions on budgets, staffing and other campus issues. The financial reports, required by law, will be updated later in the year.

Despite major expenditures this year, Chan said the school is pleased with its preliminary financial projections. Vaughn spent $205,000 to buy two properties near the campus to build classrooms, and spent $19,000 for architectural work.

Also, Vaughn hired a bilingual psychologist, a nurse practitioner and reduced class sizes to just over 25 students per teacher. For the second year, the school has continued to restore a 10% salary cut the district imposed on teachers two years ago and the 6% cut taken by clerical and cafeteria workers. Salaries for teachers at other district schools have been restored by 8%.

When Chan announced that her school had saved more than $1 million last year, the district conducted a financial review of the campus budget. That review, completed in May, found that the Pacoima school received special treatment from the district that contributed to the surplus.

Vaughn has saved some money by decreasing student and teacher absenteeism and hiring less experienced--and less costly--teachers.

But the largest chunk in savings, about $700,000, was rooted in a series of school board decisions and negotiations between Chan and district budget officials, the district review stated. The board agreed to give Vaughn more money than other elementary schools for teachers’ salaries and benefits and charged the school less for district support services, according to the district report.

The district decisions came after Chan waged a public battle over funding issues. She disputes the May report and contends the district withholds money that should be given directly to the charter schools.

District officials, however, say this is only the second year of the charter program and that complex budgetary issues still are being worked out.