Start of a New School Year

Students are back in classrooms today, at the start of the 2012-13 school year.  The district was buzzing with excitement this morning as I visited several schools. 

District employees were busy during the summer getting things ready.  Personnel services made sure staff is in place to meet the student demands.  Education services was managing enrollment and making sure curriculum is meeting the needs of our students.  Enrollment was particularly challenging as a couple of our schools have reach overflow capacity.  The nutrition department made sure food services staff are ready to serve the kids. 

The district IT department greeted the new year with a newly revamped district website.  If you haven't seen it yet, check it out at www.berryessa.k12.ca.us.  It looks great.

As usual, summer is a busy time in the maintenance department.  The most visible upgrade this summer is the new roof on Piedmont Middle School.  It is the 13th and final school in the district to get a new roof paid for by our 2000 bond measure.  Noble School has a new fire alarm system and a great looking, educational garden.  Several schools got fresh coats of paint and resurfaced black top. 

My favorite scene at the start of a new year is watching parents dropping off new kindergarten students.  Most are taking photos as they watch their little ones head into class for the first time.  Their excitement is matched all over the district by students who have new teachers and new classmates.  I wish everyone nothing but success in the upcoming school year.

Measure K: Parcel Tax to Support our Schools

Berryessa voters have been very supportive of the school district.  Despite the fact that only 25% of the voters come from households with children in our schools, 72% of them voted in 2008 to support Measure W, which was a small parcel tax of $79 per year to support programs in our 13 schools.

The annual revenue we receive from the state of California has dropped by $9 million over the past five years.  While the revenues from our parcel tax ($1.7 million per year) doesn't make up for that amount, it has provided a much needed band-aid against having to make even more devastating cuts.  As a result, we have been able to maintain K-3 class size at just 24 students (most of our neighboring districts have increased to 30) and keep our libraries open.  We also pay for science and math teachers out of the Measure W funds.

In order to ensure that this source of revenue continues into the future, the Board of Trustees has placed an 8 year extension on the November ballot.  UPDATE: The extension is Measure K.  Measure K will not increase anybody's property taxes.  It will simply keep them where they are until the year 2023.  Given the uncertain fiscal climate in the state, it is important to have a steady, local source of funds that cannot be taken away by the state or any other entity. 

Berryessa voters will be hearing more about Measure K between now and election day, November 6.  Thanks again for all your support of Berryessa schools.