Students and Counselors

When students have problems at school or home, it can have a profound effect on their academic achievement. It is important that there be somebody at school to help these students work through their problems and get them back on track. Home problems can range from unemployed parents to a death in the family. School issues might be fighting on the playground or struggling with homework. All of these students need the attention of a counselor.

Counselors also help schools set class schedules and guide students' coursework so they are ready for high school, college, and the workforce. The counselors at our three middle schools are completely booked during the day meeting with students and planning programs.

We have been able to maintain two counselors for each of our middle schools, which have 1000 students each. That is a ratio of 500:1, and is half as many counselors as recommended by the American School Counselor Association. Most of our elementary schools do not have any counselors. District-wide, our ratio is about 1000:1, including our elementary schools.

Using numbers from 2 years ago, California overall had a counselor to student ratio of 806:1, which is the second worst in the nation. The national average was 467:1. ASCA recommends 250:1. Budget cuts in California are only going to make these ratios worse.

The East Side Union High School District has proposed cutting down to 1 counselor per high school. For schools that have over 2000 students, that means that each student could expect to have no more than 45 minutes time with a counselor for the entire year. This means they won't get career, academic, and personal coaching that they need.

A likely outcome of our district's budget difficulties will be a reduction in the number of counselors available in our middle schools. The importance of counselors in the lives of students should be considered as discussions continue.

Funding Levels for Berryessa and Other Districts

Two weeks ago, Ed-Data posted updated financial information for the 2008-2009 school year. This data illuminates the huge disparity in funding suffered by the Berryessa Union School District and a few others versus the wealthiest districts. Our district has a general fund that is 12% below the statewide average of funding for elementary school districts. Statewide, the average per-pupil funding level is $9059. School districts such as Los Altos and Saratoga received $10,500 per student or more. A couple of elementary districts have significantly more than that.

Berryessa Union School District had $7996 per pupil in 2008-2009. It is one of four elementary districts in Santa Clara County below $8000 (the other three are Evergreen, Cupertino, and Union). Our revenue limit contribution from the state of California was a paltry $5451 per student. Remember that these numbers are for last school year. Funding is lower in 2009-2010 and will be even lower in 2010-2011. We did get a boost this year from Measure W, which added about $210 per student this year. Also helpful was federal stimulus money added about $500 per student for one year only.

I often make the comparison between Berryessa and Palo Alto in terms of per pupil funding and state that we receive about 1/2 of what they do to educate students. The data show that our funding was 56% of theirs in 08-09. As a unified school district with high schools, Palo Alto should receive slightly more money, but the statewide average for unified districts is $9476, which is just 5% more than elementary districts.

You can check out the data yourself at www.ed-data.org. Click on "District" under Reports to look at district by district numbers.

One conclusion to draw from the numbers is how well we are doing in Berryessa considering our funding disadvantage. Both academically and fiscally, our district is performing tremendously with the resources that we have. Thanks to all our employees, including teachers, classified staff, and administrators, for their incredible work. And thanks to the parents in our district, who help our schools and our students succeed.

Two Finalists in the Governor's Physical Fitness Challenge

Congratulations to Ruskin Elementary School and Piedmont Middle Schools for being finalists in the Governor's Physical Fitness Challenge. They are the top elementary and middle schools in the Bay Area. There was also one high school finalist, and one of those three schools will receive a $6000 award as the regional winner in May. At that time, the top school in the state at each level will receive the grand prize of $100,000 for a new fitness center.

I attended the awards assembly at Piedmont Middle School this morning. They received $1000 (an oversized check was presented) from CVS Pharmacy for their achievement, as did Ruskin. Great job by the teachers and students at both schools in being active and logging their physical activity. Being physically fit correlates well with student achievement, so we must encourage all our children to stay in shape and participate in fitness activities.

Success in Schools Depends on the Entire Staff

During budget pain, we tend to focus on the obvious effects on education in the classroom. However, it is important to keep in mind that school success is dependent on everyone who works in the schools. A lot has been said about increasing class size, saving music programs, and protecting counselors. But equally important are the rest of the support staff that do the day-to-day work that keeps the district running smoothly.

For example, every school has a secretary and a clerk (two clerks in each middle school). These employees are the ones who interact with parents and community when they walk into the school. They keep track of daily attendance, make sure classes are properly scheduled, manage report cards, document the results of English Language testing, and even serve as health clerks for students who get sick or hurt during the day.

Employees in the district's business office keep track of all purchasing and payments, manage the facilities department, make sure food service is adequate in the schools, and oversee the information technology infrastructure for the schools.

Custodians keep the schools clean, make sure bathrooms are stocked, provide routine maintenance, and set up for assemblies. Maintenance workers repair buses and trucks, fix broken equipment, maintain facilities and furniture, change lightbulbs, and clean up graffiti.

Media techs keep the libraries at school sites open, read with children, teach students about library research, organize book collections, distribute textbooks, and manage library circulation.

These are just some of the key positions in the schools and district office that have been cut back over the years. Unfortunately, as we look at cutting expenses for 2010 through 2012, these support services are vulnerable again. We must remember through the process that all district employees are integral to the successful education of our children.

Why So Many Pink Slips?

Tonight, the Board meets to vote on reductions to the Certificated staff of the district. Certificated employees are those with teaching credentials, including teachers, counselors, and administrators. Unfortunately, in order to retain flexibility in the uncertain budget situation, the Berryessa Union School District will be handing out dozens of pink slips in the next two weeks.

Why so many, and why now?

Let me answer the second question first. California law requires that in order to reduce certificated staff, those affected must be notified by March 15. Even though we don't yet know what the final budget situation will be, what negotiated solutions we have available to us, and what our final choices will be, it is necessary to plan for all contingencies now.

California law also requires that layoffs be done in reverse order of seniority. The board authorizes layoffs by passing a resolution that reduces specific services the district provides. For example, we may resolve to cut back on music and counseling, and increase class size. The district must then use seniority rankings to determine which specific employees are let go. There is an appeals process that is followed if employees think they should be ranked differently. As a result, more pink slips are distributed than necessary in order to retain flexibility as the process plays out.

In past years, our district has given out pink slips and revoked most if not all of them before the end of the school year. As budget decisions are finalized, the number of affected employees will go down. There are still 3 1/2 months before a final budget is passed. In the meantime, budget assumptions will change and cost savings will be realized through other approaches and negotiations. In addition, retirements and other attrition will open spots for some of the teachers who receive pink slips this month. Hopefully, at the end of the process, the district will be able to minimize the number of employees affected by our budget crisis.