The latest analysis of the district's budget crisis over the next two years pegs the 2-year deficit at just over $10 million. To put this in perspective, in order to save $4.8 million per year without any cuts to services or layoffs of employees, each employee in the district would have to agree to take a 10.6% pay cut. (Each 1% of district salary is equal to $472,000.)
Absent such a concession, the district has presented to the Board a proposal that includes cuts and changes that would reduce $8.3 million, which would still leave the district more than $1.6 million in the hole after the 2011-2012 year. The district is required by October to develop an interim budget to present to the state that shows how the budget will be balanced over the subsequent 2 years, ahd must pass a 2010-2011 budget by the end of June.
The list of proposed cuts presented at the April 20 Board meeting did not contain any surprises. It was a compilation of choices presented at all the budget hearings, committee meetings, and public meetings, after taking into account the feedback from all the various constituencies.
The biggest ticket item on the proposed list is increasing class size (24:1 K-3 year 1, 26:1 K-3 year 2, 32:1 4-8), which would save $3.4 million over two years. Reducing the work year for teachers by 2 days each year would save $740,000. The savings from retiring teachers nets $300,000 per year. The district is proposing savings of $640,000 by reducing the number of couselors paid for out of the general fund. The district's proposed list of cuts would result in savings of nearly $6.5 million from certificated employees (teachers). Most of these savings could only occur if they are agreed to by the teachers' union.
Proposed cuts to classified staff include a reduction of 1.5 people in the business office, a cut of one case facilitator, and reduced hours for school clerks and media techs (1 less hour per day), plus a 10-day shorter work year for school clerks and school secretaries.
The Board will be discussing these proposed reductions and any other options that may be available to the district this week at our special board meeting on Wednesday, April 28. While the discussion will not be interactive with the public, those who are interested are welcome to attend the meeting and listen to what will surely be a lively discussion.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Rescinding the Pink Slips
In order to preserve the flexibility needed to balance the budget and comply with state laws regarding reduction in teaching staff, the district distributed over 80 layoff notices to teachers in early March, long before we were able to decide on issues like class size. Earlier this week, hearings were held for teachers that are still on the list of potential layoffs. Each teacher on the list is entitled to an administrative hearing to verify that their seniority position is proper.
Fortunately, as final decisions on class size are coming into focus through negotiations with our teachers and the number of retiring teachers is becoming known, the district has been able to rescind 64 of the layoff notices. There are still 22 positions in danger as we are forced to consider larger class sizes next year. As further decisions on budget priorities are made in the next 2 months, many of these 22 teachers will be able to retain their positions as well. It is a testament to the good fiscal management of the district that we continue to make it through these bad budgetary years with relatively few layoffs.
For a complete description of the pink slip process and an explanation of why so many pink slips were distributed in the first place, see my previous post on the subject.
Fortunately, as final decisions on class size are coming into focus through negotiations with our teachers and the number of retiring teachers is becoming known, the district has been able to rescind 64 of the layoff notices. There are still 22 positions in danger as we are forced to consider larger class sizes next year. As further decisions on budget priorities are made in the next 2 months, many of these 22 teachers will be able to retain their positions as well. It is a testament to the good fiscal management of the district that we continue to make it through these bad budgetary years with relatively few layoffs.
For a complete description of the pink slip process and an explanation of why so many pink slips were distributed in the first place, see my previous post on the subject.
Friday, April 9, 2010
School Facilities Upgrades
The Berryessa Union School District has been upgrading and replacing all the school roofs, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems, fire alarm systems, irrigation systems, and landscaping, plus repainting all the schools. The money for these renovations comes from a bond measure passed early in the decade. UPDATE: The bond money has all been spent and the remainder of the projects are being paid for from money received for the sale of our Flickinger property.
The schools in the Berryessa School District are all more than 30 years old. All the roofs need to be replaced in order to fix drainage issues. New roofing materials that are energy efficient and comply with Title 24 requirements are being used. At some of our schools, buckets are used during the rainy season to collect rain leaking into classrooms and hallways. At others, workers have found dry rot in the roofs that means the rain is damaging the buildings' infrastructure.
The HVAC systems that have not yet been upgraded are mostly original equipment from when the schools were built. They are very old and ineffcient. New systems will conserve energy and allow for control by an energy management system.
A few years ago, satellite images of Berryessa allowed for easy identification of our schools, as many of the fields were brown all summer long. This is because many of the irrigation systems were inoperable and have not worked for years. As a result, school fields are unusable. The lack of maintenance means that gophers have taken over, making the fields hazardous for our students. We are replacing all these fields in order to provide safe play areas and enhance our physical education programs. The work will also enhance the visual appeal of our schools.
The project work began in 2004. So far, 10 of the schools have had their roofing/HVAC completed. Three projects remain. Northwood and Cherrywood are scheduled to be done this summer. Piedmont is scheduled for the summer of 2011. The grounds work is underway at the last two schools, Vinci Park and Northwood. In addition, Ruskin's fire alarm system will be upgraded this year and Northwood will be painted in 2011.
The projects scheduled for fiscal year 2009-10 are budgeted to cost $3.79 million. In total, the remaining projects will cost more than $7 million. For those of you who are budget wonks, these projects are being paid for out of Fund 40, which currently has a balance of $8.7 million. Much of the remaining Fund 40 money is earmarked to help pay for the technology upgrade the district implemented this past year. Another portion of the money is used to pay for some of the district's maintenance staff.
The money in Fund 40 is capital money that by state law cannot be used for general fund spending. (UPDATE: This money came from the sale of the Flickinger property.) The state for one year allows school districts to transfer money out of Fund 40 to help bridge budget gaps. If we were to decide to cancel projects and use the money for our general fund, it may be years before additional capital money is available for these projects without asking the voters to support another bond issue.
The schools in the Berryessa School District are all more than 30 years old. All the roofs need to be replaced in order to fix drainage issues. New roofing materials that are energy efficient and comply with Title 24 requirements are being used. At some of our schools, buckets are used during the rainy season to collect rain leaking into classrooms and hallways. At others, workers have found dry rot in the roofs that means the rain is damaging the buildings' infrastructure.
The HVAC systems that have not yet been upgraded are mostly original equipment from when the schools were built. They are very old and ineffcient. New systems will conserve energy and allow for control by an energy management system.
A few years ago, satellite images of Berryessa allowed for easy identification of our schools, as many of the fields were brown all summer long. This is because many of the irrigation systems were inoperable and have not worked for years. As a result, school fields are unusable. The lack of maintenance means that gophers have taken over, making the fields hazardous for our students. We are replacing all these fields in order to provide safe play areas and enhance our physical education programs. The work will also enhance the visual appeal of our schools.
The project work began in 2004. So far, 10 of the schools have had their roofing/HVAC completed. Three projects remain. Northwood and Cherrywood are scheduled to be done this summer. Piedmont is scheduled for the summer of 2011. The grounds work is underway at the last two schools, Vinci Park and Northwood. In addition, Ruskin's fire alarm system will be upgraded this year and Northwood will be painted in 2011.
The projects scheduled for fiscal year 2009-10 are budgeted to cost $3.79 million. In total, the remaining projects will cost more than $7 million. For those of you who are budget wonks, these projects are being paid for out of Fund 40, which currently has a balance of $8.7 million. Much of the remaining Fund 40 money is earmarked to help pay for the technology upgrade the district implemented this past year. Another portion of the money is used to pay for some of the district's maintenance staff.
The money in Fund 40 is capital money that by state law cannot be used for general fund spending. (UPDATE: This money came from the sale of the Flickinger property.) The state for one year allows school districts to transfer money out of Fund 40 to help bridge budget gaps. If we were to decide to cancel projects and use the money for our general fund, it may be years before additional capital money is available for these projects without asking the voters to support another bond issue.
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