Trustees of the Manteca Unified School District will no doubt have a tough task Tuesday when considering the next series of budget cuts for the 2009-10 school year.

They’ve already come about $1 million shy towards achieving their goal of trimming $14 million by approving Level I and Level II items as proposed by acting Superintendent Jason Messer’s 100-member budget-reduction committee.

The tough part could come during the 7 p.m. open session in the new administration building, 2901 E. Louise Ave.

The board might decide to eliminate high school bus transportation, make across-the-board pay cuts for all employees, or shut down Lathrop High after just one year.

In any event, Manteca Unified, like all public schools throughout the state, will more than likely have to do more with less in order to offset money not coming in due to California’s budget shortfalls.

All told, the district could be looking at a total of about $23.5 million when considering the mid-year cuts effective through parts of this year and all of next.

In other agenda items:

• The board is scheduled to recognize 43 second- through- eighth-grade students achieving perfect scores of 600 on either or both of the California Standards Test from the 2007-08 school year.

• Norm Knodt of the Symphony Comes to Manteca committee will provide a report on the “Steppin’ Out Program.

• Trustees could sign off on the completed work of F&H Construction done at the East Union High boys’ locker room.

 For more information call the district office at (209) 825-3200 or visit the website at www.mantecausd.net.