SDUSD and 10 Other County School Districts in 'Perilous Financial Situation'

Eleven school districts in San Diego County, including some of the region's largest, were among 188 in California – an all-time high – reporting perilous financial situations, the state Department of Education announced Monday.

School districts are required by the state to report three times annually on their financial condition for the current and next two fiscal years. They must give certifications on their status – positive means they can meet their financial obligations; qualified means they might have problems paying their bills; or negative, meaning they will not be able to make their payments.

No districts in San Diego County issued negative certifications in the second interim report to the state, but 11 gave a qualified certification, including Borrego Springs Unified, Carlsbad Unified, Fallbrook Union High, Grossmont Union High, Jamul Dulzura Union Elementary, La Mesa-Spring Valley, Ramona City Unified, San Diego Unified, San Marcos Unified, San Ysidro Elementary and Vista Unified.

“Across California, parents, teachers and administrators are increasingly wondering how to keep their schools' lights on, their bills paid and their doors open,” state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said. “The deep cuts this budget crisis has forced -- and the uncertainties about what lies ahead -- are taking an unprecedented and unacceptable toll on our schools.”

Torlakson said 2.6 million children are educated by school districts around the state that are in financial difficulty. The total of 188 districts is 61 more than listed in the first interim report, he said.

A dozen school districts, the largest being Vallejo City Unified in Northern California, issued negative certifications.

–City News Service