As Gov. Schwarzenegger wrestles with a $14 billion shortfall, his point man on education -- former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan -- couldn't offer any assurances Thursday that California schools won't take a bigger funding hit.

Riordan, the governor's education secretary, came to Fresno to talk school issues with parents and superintendents, visit the Beth Ramacher Educational Complex and participate in a news conference about fund-raising efforts to help the Chaffee Zoo.

The visit comes in a week when educators are increasingly concerned that a deal struck with Schwarzenegger may not stay intact because of the Legislature's struggle to balance the state's $99.1 billion budget. Under the agreement, a coalition of education groups agreed to take only $2 billion of the $4 billion owed to schools in 2004-05 to avoid deeper cuts.

Thursday, Riordan said the governor's No. 1 priority is education but that the economy is still faltering. So, even though state voters approved a $15 billion bond measure to help bail out California financially, a multibillion-dollar deficit remains.

"The revenues in this state are falling short," Riordan said during a tour of the Ramacher complex, which serves students with severe disabilities. "I don't know where it's going to end up. As I said earlier, to judge him [Schwarzenegger] getting out of this fiscal disaster is one thing where I think he's done a great job. But he's not a miracle man." Riordan started his day by meeting with parents at Fresno County Office of Education, which helped coordinate Riordan's Fresno visit. He later met at the office with superintendents, including Fresno County schools chief Pete Mehas.

Larry Powell, superintendent of Central Unified School District, also attended. He said they discussed ways to give schools flexibility in areas such as categorical funds -- $13 billion for special programs such as those that help English-language learners and Gifted and Talented Education.

Educators want the ability to shift money from one program to another, to help close gaps and minimize cuts from deficits.

Powell said that educators are going to trust Schwarzenegger's word concerning schools: "He saw our good faith at not asking for what we were really entitled to."

At Ramacher, which is operated by Fresno County Office of Education, Riordan visited classrooms where teachers and other specialists work with special-needs children, including medically fragile students.

Patricia Deroian, Ramacher's program manager, said the staff appreciated the opportunity to show Riordan what they do and "seeing the importance of what they do."

She said they also were impressed with his ease in interacting with the students: "His whole approach with them was very, very tender. It was just wonderful."

The other stop on Riordan's schedule was an appearance at the zoo's news conference. Riordan last month sent a $10,000 donation through the Riordan Foundation via the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Thursday, zoo officials were presented with a $20,000 check, representing money raised by children from 34 school districts in Fresno County for the "Dollars from Angels" zoo maintenance fund.

Since early December, the zoo has received more than $430,000. The zoo faces losing its accreditation because of a backlog of repair needs estimated at $3 million.