The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) has restored some federal funding to schools with students from poorer families. Next school year, schools with 40 percent or more students on free or reduced-cost lunch programs will get about $343 per student. The money should go to help pay for additional instruction and other costs for the students.  Schools including University City High School on Genesee Avenue and Ocean Beach Elementary on Santa Monica Avenue, were cut out of federal funding because of recent board decisions to funnel more money to schools with a higher concentration of students from financially struggling families. As the board restores some federal funding to schools in poorer areas, the rest of the district continues to wrestle with current-year and projected budget cuts. Delaying the purchase of new school buses, curtailing travel for teachers and potential layoffs of district administrative office personnel represent some of the budget-cut items SDUSD board members approved Feb. 10, as they try to close an estimated $33 million midyear budget gap and an estimated $75 million budget deficit next year. Board member Katherine Nakamura voted against proposed midyear cuts because, she said, there wasn’t enough information to make a decision. She crumpled up the single sheet of paper representing $33 million and tossed it aside after the 3-2 approval of the 2008-09 midyear budget plan. Nakamura and board member John de Beck voted against the plan, with board president Shelia Jackson and members John Lee Evans and Richard Barrera in favor. Nakamura’s objections included a vaguely described $7.7 million cut from nonschool sites. “Who is taking what hit in Central office and what does that mean?” Nakamura asked. “Are we getting the financial document[s] we need?” Nakamura directed staff to come back with more information at a special Feb. 14 board meeting. De Beck, who represents schools in Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla, said the cuts don’t represent a long-term solution. Although the board is trying to avoid layoffs, de Beck said they’re a possibility. “I don’t see that the savings are there that don’t involve rollbacks in salary,” de Beck said.  Proposed midyear budget solutions include tapping into $4.5 million in workers compensation funds and maintaining a hiring freeze that should result in an estimated $6.2 million in savings. Time is ticking for budget decisions as the district runs up against San Diego County deadlines. SDUSD Chief Financial Officer James Masias said if the district doesn’t decide on a current-year solution and a two-year outlook plan soon, the county will do it. Masias said he plans to meet with county officials this week, adding that the current budget crisis changes the way school site budgets are allocated. “We’re looking at every school site to see what is it that you don’t need [to operate],” he said. The board also addressed next year’s estimated $75 million budget deficit. Cuts next year could bring reduction in Central office staff, increased class sizes and elimination of off-campus learning programs in Balboa Park and Old Town. According to SDUSD staff reports, for every closed school with fewer than 400 students, the district can save about $450,000. Several beach-area schools, including Crown Point Elementary, Bay View Terrace Elementary and Barnard Elementary showed up on a list of schools the district was considering closing or reconfiguring. The SDUSD board reconvenes to discuss the fiscal year 2009-10 budget Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 a.m., at Eugene Brucker Education Center Auditorium, 4100 Normal St.