With the state’s current budget crisis looming over many local agencies, dozens of Hermosa Beach parents and several school officials Monday night discussed the district’s estimated budget shortfall and its possible effects on school programs.

The meeting drew between 75 and 100 people to Hermosa Valley’s multipurpose room where Superintendent Duffy Clark, Valley Principal Chris Jones and the district’s business manager, Angela Jones, opened the meeting with a history of state funding, and a general introduction into the district’s expenditures and revenues.

“I want to thank the budget committee members who began working on budget issues more than a year ago,” said Clark. “The purpose of this meeting is to explain our budget problems and how the state funding is going to affect our school district.”

Jennifer Alvarado, Hermosa Beach Education Foundation co-president, encouraged parents to donate $300 per child for next year to absorb what officials are estimating to be a $300,000 deficit. With 180 days in an entire school year, this averages out to $1.66 a day. She told attendees who wished to make a donation, they could visit the Web site and sign up for a payment plan.

“These programs are vital to our schools and we would all like to retain them, and I think $300 a year is so little compared to the quality of education our children are receiving,” she said.

Last year, the Education Foundation began seeking grants from major corporations to fund certain programs as a way of anticipating a possible shortfall. The foundation just recently received a check from Verizon Communications in the amount of $40,000.

“Last February, we approached Verizon to see if it would be interested in supporting our award-winning technology program,” said Alvarado. “I think maybe it’s different in Hermosa Beach than in other school districts because we are so small we share information and resources in this community. We see the handwriting on the wall in terms of what kind of budget problems the state is having and we want to remind parents that the shortfall is not our fault but it’s our responsibility.”

With California facing an estimated $35 billion shortfall, both schools and cities are scrambling to establish ways and solutions to absorb their respective deficits.

Clark spoke on budget revenue and expenditure forecasts for the 2003-04 academic year. This year’s revenues totaled an estimated $6.9 million while next year’s revenues could total only about $6.7 million. This year’s costs reached about $7 million compared to next year’s expenditures at an estimated $7.1 million.

The School District hopes to receive most of its income source from the state (67 percent). It will spend most of its income on certified and classified salaries.

“We are all just so impressed with the commitment and support of the parent community and the generosity of the school community. It’s been absolutely phenomenal,” added Clark. “It’s wonderful to see that everyone cares so much about the programs and the kids that make our School District so unique.”