As the dismissal bell rings to signal the end of the day for students and teachers at Thousand Oaks High School, it's the beginning of a long night for Pam Ross and five other members of the custodial crew.

For several hours, Ross and crew mop and clean the cafeteria, kitchen, classrooms and bathrooms, scraping gum off floors and taking out trash.

The crew's work, however, could double next school year if the Conejo Valley Unified School District board approves deep cuts that could eliminate eight custodial positions.

"I am well aware we are having a budget crisis and cuts need to be made, but I just don't think they understand the amount of work that needs to be done," Ross said. "The rooms aren't going to be as clean, and things are just going to be more difficult."

From faculty and staff jobs, to parent and teacher appreciation receptions, a variety of proposed cuts for the 2008-09 school year was discussed Tuesday night by the Conejo board.

District officials estimate an $8.1 million shortfall if the governor's proposed budget, which includes a 10 percent cut to education, is approved by the Legislature. Like other districts, Conejo is now planning for the worst.

At Tuesday's meeting, district officials presented several budget scenarios to the board, including eliminating 14 teaching positions to save about $830,000.

The proposals were only an informational item on the agenda, and the board made no decisions Tuesday. The cuts will be further discussed May 20. The board must approve a budget by June 15, Deputy Superintendent Jeffrey Baarstad said.

Numerous positions could be on the chopping block, including the entire elementary counseling program, which currently has five counselors for 20 elementary schools.

"In my 20 years on the board, I've never had to do anything quite like this," President Dorothy Beaubien said. "To keep our doors open, we have to make these cuts. We have to go with the worst-case scenario. We really don't know what will happen until (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) makes the decision."

Baarstad made several recommendations to the board, including eliminating $920,000 in planned maintenance work.

District officials also looked at additional cuts that could be needed if the board rescinded its decision to close Meadows and University schools in fall 2009.

Cost-saving measures discussed Tuesday included closing Century High School, an alternative education campus in Thousand Oaks with 30 students, eliminating busing for high school students and cutting salaries districtwide by 1 or 2 percent.

Superintendent Mario Contini said the looming cuts have hurt morale across the district.

"How do you console people who may lose their jobs and also people who might keep their jobs but will have more to do and less tools to do it with?" Contini said. "People are dedicating their lives ... for kids, and every other year it seems like they are getting kicked in the teeth."

For a complete list of proposed cuts, visit http://www.conejo.k12.ca.us.