Sequoia high school district sets session on budget woes Sequoia high school district sets session on budget woes (June 15, 2005)

An hour-long study session of the 2005-06 budget of the Sequoia Union High School District -- which includes Menlo-Atherton and Woodside high schools -- is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, in the district board room at 480 James Ave. in Redwood City.

The session is likely to be dominated by talk of the district's financial troubles, which include a shrinking reserve fund.

The fund was 5 percent of the district's $76 million budget last July, but as of June 30, it is likely to be 3.5 percent, said Ed LaVigne, the district's financial officer, at a recent school board meeting.

The Sequoia district is expecting some $3 million in new property tax revenues, but the costs of complying with the federal No Child Left Behind Act, rising utility bills and per-student fees for a new local charter school are eating it up, said Mr. LaVigne.

To save money, the district is considering a plan to ferret out and dismiss students attending school without actually living in the district.

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