The Poway Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted to allow the staff to seek a loan of up to $34 million after cash-strapped California deferred $37.5 million from the district.

Monday night's vote comes after Gov. Jerry Brown deferred $9.3 billion in revenue limit funding, which is based on school attendance, for California schools for the 2011-12 school year in an effort to trim the deficit.

"The state is holding our money in various ways," said Superintendent John Collins. "This is unacceptable."

With board approval, district staff will join other districts in striking a deal to borrow money with a low interest rate, said associate superintendent of business support services Malliga Tholandi. Tholandi said the district should know by the end of May what the interest rate will be and how much the district will actually need to borrow to supplement the cut. By July 1, the district will have the cash loan in hand to pay for the following school year.

But the cuts to education continue to frustrate district and board leaders.

Collins told attendees at the board meeting that it is unlikely the state would be able to compensate for the cash deferrals.

"There's no way the state is ever going to be able to catch up," he said. "We have large classes, we've laid off people, we've had salary rollbacks—California does not hold a high value on education."

Board President Penny Ranftle expressed the same frustration, noting that she received a recent phone call asking for her support in participating in a statewide rally in May.

In the only public comment of the meeting, Chuck Lord, president of the Poway chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), said he held the same sentiments as the district and board leaders regarding education and the state's cuts to it.

"We need to bring not just education but the government back to the people," he said. "SEIU is going to be behind this [May 13 rally]."

State lawmakers are working on closing a $15 billion deficit after it agreed on $11.2 billion in cuts, which was signed into law last month by the governor. Brown is currently seeking public support in getting tax extensions on a special election ballot that he said will bring in $12 billion in revenue and ultimately assist in funding California schools.

Other Notes:

• The board discussed the possible boundary changes for four elementary schools that would balance attendance. The four elementary schools that could see a change include Chaparral, Painted Rock, Turtleback and Monterey Ridge elementaries (See Chart). The board will vote on the changes at the May meeting.
  
• Students from the Poway High and Westview High Robotic Clubs—which ranked 10th and second, respectively, in the national CyberPatriot Competition in Washington D.C.—also made a presentation.