For Nevada County educators, the tentative approval of a state budget simply means that now they know for sure there will be less money to work with.

Just how much remains to be seen. As to whether this is a permanent solution, at least one school superintendent believes it isn't.

“It's like putting a scab on a wound,” said Britta Skavdahl, the new superintendent for Pleasant Ridge Union School District. The Alta Sierra-area district is the largest elementary school district in Nevada County.

With legislative leaders set to vote on a package that closes the state's $26.3 billion budget deficit this week, educational leaders said Tuesday this year's state budget does little to help them bridge gaps in service.

At Pleasant Ridge, all eight teachers who were targeted for layoff — mostly due to declining enrollment — were re-hired, not because lawmakers reached a compromise, but because the district dipped into its reserves.

“It's accounting tricks, not substantive change,” Skavdahl said of the budget deal reached by lawmakers late Monday.

The state's budget does preserve a home-to-school transportation fund that previously was slated for a two-thirds reduction. Cuts in bus service may now amount to only about 20 percent, according to state estimates.

On Tuesday, there were more unknowns than concrete answers.

The home-to-school transportation issue represents more than $1 million in “consultant fees” for the Nevada Joint Union High School District. With school about a month away, officials don't know how many routes may be consolidated or eliminated, Superintendent Ralf Swenson said. The money from the state “doesn't cover all of our expenses, and it impinges on our general fund,” Swenson added.

All of the districts served by Durham Transportation Services, which includes Grass Valley, Nevada City, Pleasant Ridge and the high school district, have discussed cutting routes or services, said Durham general manager John Heckadon.

The company provides 51 routes for bus service in Nevada County.

“I would say that there will be cuts in bus routes this year, no doubt. It just depends on how many,” Heckadon said.

The budget stalemate almost cost the high school district its summer school program, used primarily by students making up classes.

It was saved, co-principal Pauli Simas said, to help students get the credits they need to graduate.

“It's an indication that our county puts kids first, that we would do summer school even though it's not fully funded,” Simas said. “I don't think we have a choice. We have to dedicate time to kids being academically successful.”

Title I programs — primarily special education programs — are mandated to remain at their funding levels for the coming year.

At community colleges, funding is “in flux right now,” Sierra College spokeswoman Sue Michaels said. “We're almost certainly going to have a fee increase.”

She also expected cuts to counseling services, graduation assessments and related programs. Financial aid, however, should remain intact, Michaels said.

It's also unclear how many class sections would be cut, she added. School begins Aug. 31.

School for those in grades K-12 begins Aug. 19.

To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.