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.

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.

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.