SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - San Francisco’s public schools are in line to receive $17.9 million to $19.7 million in city funds from a “rainy day” reserve, Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to announce today.

The San Francisco Unified School District is expecting a $40 million cut in state funding next year in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s current proposed budget, according to district officials.

In February, Newsom announced that he supported giving local schools $31 million in rainy-day funding that was estimated to be available.

On Wednesday, the mayor met with district staff, the Controller’s Office and his education adviser to discuss the amount for which the district would be eligible, an estimated $18 million to $20 million, according to mayoral spokesman Nathan Ballard.

Teachers and administrators have been waiting to know the outcome of the district’s budget situation since 535 layoff warnings were issued March 15, said Dennis Kelly, presidents of the teachers union. Final decisions on layoffs are required to be sent out by May 15.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who authored the rainy-day legislation, said the available funding is good news for the schools.

“I know there was an estimation of more [money], but it’s still a significant amount that wouldn’t have been there,” Ammiano said.

The new rainy-day allocation is still tentative because the governor is scheduled to release revisions to his budget in May. Additionally, the Legislature won’t approve a final budget until summer or fall, Deputy Controller Monique Zmuda said.

To add to the uncertainty, the mayor and Board of Supervisors must vote on the sum before it can be given to the district.

Even with the rainy-day funds in hand, the district will need to do “quite a bit of trimming,” Superintendent Carlos Garcia said.

bwinegarner@examiner.com

Examiner Staff Writer David Smith contributed to this report.

Comments from Examiner Readers

2:58 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 17, 2008 re: "Sunset parents shine light on school assignment issue"

Examiner Reader said:
To Hell with diversity. A kid should walk to school in the first six years, ride the bus or walk for the next three years and travel across town by bus to finish off High School. Anything else is foolish.

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9:07 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 8, 2008 re: "Lunch-line ID cards sweeping The City"

Examiner Reader said:
cant the City use the million or so for that weelchair ramp to pay for lunch for hungry school kids? or does the alioto family triumph over common sense again ?

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8:51 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008 re: "Parents, students cross their fingers, hoping to get into school of choice"

Examiner Reader said:
As the parent of a fifth grader awaiting the NEWS about middle school I am haunted by memories of my first two tries at getting an elementary school... I am so stressed out and I can't wait for that stupid letter to come so I can plan the next 3 years of my child's life...sigh...

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10:58 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 28, 2008 re: "Pink slips approved for school district employees"

Examiner Reader said:
If SF is in such dire financial crisis that hundreds of teachers are being laid off, then why are Ammiano and Newsom launching a million-dollar campaign to post billboards reminding illegal aliens of all the freebies they can get?

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