The Berryessa Education Foundation is an important part of the Berryessa community. Every year, they raise tens of thousands of dollars for the 13 schools in our district. Teachers can apply for grants to fund projects or buy supplies for their classrooms.
The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Berryessa Education Foundation is the "Raffle to Make a Difference." Last year, the foundation raised over $20,000 from the raffle. Tickets cost $4 each and can be purchased at any district school. For each ticket bought, half the money goes directly to the school where the ticket was sold, and the other half goes to the foundation.
There are all kinds of great prizes, from electronics like TVs, tablets, and an Xbox, to services and entertainment tickets. A complete prize list can be found here.
The drawing will take place on Saturday, March 24, at 11:00, at the district office. You don't have to be present to win. Stop by your local school today to buy tickets.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
District Budget Update - No Pink Slips in 2012
March is here and with it is the statutory deadline to decide on whether or not to issue layoff notices to school teachers and certificated staff. Every year since I have been on the Board of Trustees, our district has issued "pink slips" in order to retain flexibility as we undertake the budget development process. Last year, Berryessa School District gave out 99 pink slips. As the budget came into better focus, we were able to reinstate almost everyone on the list and avoid more severe cuts. In addition, we set aside about $250 per student in reserve in case mid-year cuts materialized during the 2011-2012 school year.
The good news is that mid-year cuts were avoided, meaning that we can roll over the reserve to next year's budget. The bad news is that the coming year's budget is even more uncertain than in the past. Despite the high degree of uncertainty and since we have the ability to cover next year's budget in the case of cuts, I am very pleased that we will, for the first time in a number of years, proceed without any layoffs this year.
This is a very risky course of action, but one that is the right thing to do, both for our employees and in order to maintain a reasonable level of service for our students. We are operating under the assumption that all of our operations, including class size, school year length, and service hours, will remain unchanged from this year to next. There will be savings due to a large number of retiring teachers at the end of this school year.
A lot of our funding stability depends on two things happening. One is that some kind of tax measure passes in the state so that education funding can remain at its current level. Secondly, we must renew our local parcel tax so that our annual income stream of $1.7 million doesn't go away. Even with those two things, the budget we are preparing is in trouble for the second year out (2013-2014). As a result, the district will be forced to submit a "qualified budget" in our second interim report.
So while I am happy that the coming school year looks like it will be status quo as far as services for our students, we must continue to remain on top of our budget and save money in every way possible. And we will continue to hope that an improving economy means that the state will once again begin investing adequately in California students.
The good news is that mid-year cuts were avoided, meaning that we can roll over the reserve to next year's budget. The bad news is that the coming year's budget is even more uncertain than in the past. Despite the high degree of uncertainty and since we have the ability to cover next year's budget in the case of cuts, I am very pleased that we will, for the first time in a number of years, proceed without any layoffs this year.
This is a very risky course of action, but one that is the right thing to do, both for our employees and in order to maintain a reasonable level of service for our students. We are operating under the assumption that all of our operations, including class size, school year length, and service hours, will remain unchanged from this year to next. There will be savings due to a large number of retiring teachers at the end of this school year.
A lot of our funding stability depends on two things happening. One is that some kind of tax measure passes in the state so that education funding can remain at its current level. Secondly, we must renew our local parcel tax so that our annual income stream of $1.7 million doesn't go away. Even with those two things, the budget we are preparing is in trouble for the second year out (2013-2014). As a result, the district will be forced to submit a "qualified budget" in our second interim report.
So while I am happy that the coming school year looks like it will be status quo as far as services for our students, we must continue to remain on top of our budget and save money in every way possible. And we will continue to hope that an improving economy means that the state will once again begin investing adequately in California students.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
2012-2013 State Budget Update
I have been too busy to write a detailed analysis of the Governor's proposed budget, released in January. The upshot is that there are lots of unknowns as we head into the 2012-2013 budget year. Governor Brown is tying the budget for schools to an initiative with tax increases that will appear on the November 2012 ballot.
If the tax measures pass, school budgets will increase, although the increase will be primarily used to end some of the deferrals that delay when school districts receive money from the state. So the results would be mainly status quo for school districts. If the tax measures fail, the Governor is proposing major cuts next year, more than 5%. As we plan for next year, we don't know what the outcome will be. So it leaves lots of unknowns in place.
After next week's Board Meeting, I will write more about where the Berryessa School District stands and how we are hoping to craft our budget for the coming year. For now, there is a good article written by another David Cohen, a school teacher from Palo Alto. Every year, State Senator Joe Simitian holds an education update. This year, the focus was on the Governor's budget proposal. Read the summary of the hearing here:
http://accomplishedcaliforniateachers.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/california-education-update/
If the tax measures pass, school budgets will increase, although the increase will be primarily used to end some of the deferrals that delay when school districts receive money from the state. So the results would be mainly status quo for school districts. If the tax measures fail, the Governor is proposing major cuts next year, more than 5%. As we plan for next year, we don't know what the outcome will be. So it leaves lots of unknowns in place.
After next week's Board Meeting, I will write more about where the Berryessa School District stands and how we are hoping to craft our budget for the coming year. For now, there is a good article written by another David Cohen, a school teacher from Palo Alto. Every year, State Senator Joe Simitian holds an education update. This year, the focus was on the Governor's budget proposal. Read the summary of the hearing here:
http://accomplishedcaliforniateachers.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/california-education-update/
Monday, January 9, 2012
How Do We Improve Public Education in America?
These days, much of my focus has been on the gross under-funding of public schools, particularly in California. I believe that our funding decisions reflect our values as a society, and the steep reduction in funding of schools means that we don't understand how important quality education is to the future of our state and country.
Besides funding, there are also real questions about the way to structure our schools in order to offer equal opportunity to all students, regardless of background.
There is a large amount of evidence that student performance correlates with poverty rates no matter the educational model used. Here is a provocative interview with Professor Michael Marder at the University of Texas in which he presents data showing the strong correlation. While many people are pushing charter schools as a panacea, Professor Marder's data also shows that charter schools clearly lag public schools in performance. We must be very careful in how we expand the charter school movement in order to make sure it really does benefit all students, both at the charters and the traditional public schools.
Ten years ago, Congress created "No Child Left Behind," which puts a great emphasis on testing in order to gauge student progress and created an expectation that all students will be proficient by 2013. While the goal is admirable, additional tools or strategies were not offered along with the evaluation components.
We can learn a lot from schools in Finland, which are widely recognized as the best performing schools in the world. In Finland, there are no standardized tests. Students are evaluated by their teachers and the National Ministry of Education tracks progress by periodically testing a random sample of students. The key is that Finland's model for education relies on "the idea that every child should have exactly the same opportunity to learn, regardless of family background, income, or geographic location. Education has been seen first and foremost not as a way to produce star performers, but as an instrument to even out social inequality... This starts with the basics. Finland offers all pupils free school meals, easy access to health care, psychological counseling, and individualized student guidance." In other words, school is about more than curriculum. It is about making sure that all students are provided with everything they need to be successful. By the way, there are no private schools in Finland. The public schools are given all the resources they need to educate everyone. [Read more about Finish schools.]
Until we make education a priority and are willing to learn from the data and from education models that are working, we are shortchanging many of our next generation. Let's resolve in 2012 to work together to find ways to address the underlying needs of our students. It can be done through public schools, without relying on private institutions or charter schools.
Besides funding, there are also real questions about the way to structure our schools in order to offer equal opportunity to all students, regardless of background.
There is a large amount of evidence that student performance correlates with poverty rates no matter the educational model used. Here is a provocative interview with Professor Michael Marder at the University of Texas in which he presents data showing the strong correlation. While many people are pushing charter schools as a panacea, Professor Marder's data also shows that charter schools clearly lag public schools in performance. We must be very careful in how we expand the charter school movement in order to make sure it really does benefit all students, both at the charters and the traditional public schools.
Ten years ago, Congress created "No Child Left Behind," which puts a great emphasis on testing in order to gauge student progress and created an expectation that all students will be proficient by 2013. While the goal is admirable, additional tools or strategies were not offered along with the evaluation components.
We can learn a lot from schools in Finland, which are widely recognized as the best performing schools in the world. In Finland, there are no standardized tests. Students are evaluated by their teachers and the National Ministry of Education tracks progress by periodically testing a random sample of students. The key is that Finland's model for education relies on "the idea that every child should have exactly the same opportunity to learn, regardless of family background, income, or geographic location. Education has been seen first and foremost not as a way to produce star performers, but as an instrument to even out social inequality... This starts with the basics. Finland offers all pupils free school meals, easy access to health care, psychological counseling, and individualized student guidance." In other words, school is about more than curriculum. It is about making sure that all students are provided with everything they need to be successful. By the way, there are no private schools in Finland. The public schools are given all the resources they need to educate everyone. [Read more about Finish schools.]
Until we make education a priority and are willing to learn from the data and from education models that are working, we are shortchanging many of our next generation. Let's resolve in 2012 to work together to find ways to address the underlying needs of our students. It can be done through public schools, without relying on private institutions or charter schools.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
School Budget Spared - for now
Today, Governor Brown announced the trigger cuts for the middle of the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Things aren't as bad for K-12 schools as feared. The Governor has declared that the economy is improving, and as a result, just $1 billion in cuts will be triggered. While higher education and child care took significant cuts, K-12 schools will be spared. There are some cuts to transportation funding, which amounts to about $11 per student.
As you may remember, this year's state budget included an assumption of $4 billion in additional revenue. If the money didn't materialize, automatic cuts would be triggered on January 1. Today's projection from the Department of Finance shows a shortfall, but less of one than many expected. Schools faced as much as $250 per student in mid-year cuts. Our district set aside the money in reserve to cover the potential cuts for the remainder of this year. We can now use that money to make up for some of our ongoing structural deficit over the next few years.
However, we are not out of the woods yet. Recent estimates are that California faces another $7 billion deficit for 2012-2013. So once again, the legislature will be contemplating cuts when discussing the next budget. That is, unless revenues can be raised in the November 2012 election.
In the mean time, we can enjoy a happier holiday season, knowing that things could have been much worse. Let's hope that the economy continues to improve and California can begin to reinvest in our children.
As you may remember, this year's state budget included an assumption of $4 billion in additional revenue. If the money didn't materialize, automatic cuts would be triggered on January 1. Today's projection from the Department of Finance shows a shortfall, but less of one than many expected. Schools faced as much as $250 per student in mid-year cuts. Our district set aside the money in reserve to cover the potential cuts for the remainder of this year. We can now use that money to make up for some of our ongoing structural deficit over the next few years.
However, we are not out of the woods yet. Recent estimates are that California faces another $7 billion deficit for 2012-2013. So once again, the legislature will be contemplating cuts when discussing the next budget. That is, unless revenues can be raised in the November 2012 election.
In the mean time, we can enjoy a happier holiday season, knowing that things could have been much worse. Let's hope that the economy continues to improve and California can begin to reinvest in our children.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Transitional Kindergarten
Today is December 2, the date by which children must be 5 years old in order to enter kindergarten in California. Starting next year, that date will move forward by one month each year until it settles on September 1. This will align California with much of the rest of the United States, making sure that children are 5 years old by the time they start school.
Rather than make children born between September 1 and December 2 wait another year, school districts must begin operating a transitional kindergarten program staring in 2012. Studies show that students who have a pre-K educational experience are more likely to be successful in school. During the first year of the new program, districts are required to offer the program to those with birthdays between November 2 and December 2. In the fall of 2014, the program must be fully implemented and offered to those with birthdays after September 1. It will be up to districts if they want to expand the program and make it available to students that were born after December 2.
Transitional kindergarten offers children the opportunity to develop maturity and skills they need to excel in school. It also helps schools by making sure that students are better prepared and less likely to be placed in special education or be retained as they get older.
Berryessa School District is beginning to discuss how we will implement the program. For the first year, there will be approximately 1 transitional K class for every 10 regular K classes. That means the program will not be offered at every school and may be confined to just 1 or 2 campuses. In upcoming board meetings, we will have conversations on how the program will take shape.
Rather than make children born between September 1 and December 2 wait another year, school districts must begin operating a transitional kindergarten program staring in 2012. Studies show that students who have a pre-K educational experience are more likely to be successful in school. During the first year of the new program, districts are required to offer the program to those with birthdays between November 2 and December 2. In the fall of 2014, the program must be fully implemented and offered to those with birthdays after September 1. It will be up to districts if they want to expand the program and make it available to students that were born after December 2.
Transitional kindergarten offers children the opportunity to develop maturity and skills they need to excel in school. It also helps schools by making sure that students are better prepared and less likely to be placed in special education or be retained as they get older.
Berryessa School District is beginning to discuss how we will implement the program. For the first year, there will be approximately 1 transitional K class for every 10 regular K classes. That means the program will not be offered at every school and may be confined to just 1 or 2 campuses. In upcoming board meetings, we will have conversations on how the program will take shape.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Giving Thanks for Berryessa's Successes
As we enter the second trimester of the school year, schools in California face many challenges. We will begin having conversations about many of these topics over the next few months. The news is full of reports that California's revenue is coming in below expectations, so schools may be facing significant mid-year cuts. We continue to deal with the requirements of No Child Left Behind, particularly at our schools that are currently in Program Improvement status. In addition, we must implement a transitional kindergarten program for students who will be too young to start traditional K in August 2012. I will begin writing more about these and other topics starting next month.
But in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to give thanks for the great work being done by teachers, staff, parents, and students throughout the Berryessa School District. There are great things happening at all of our schools. So thank you everyone, for your dedication to providing top-notch education for Berryessa's students.
In November's Berryessa Sun, Superintendent Will Ector wrote a column highlighting some special achievements in the district. I encourage you to read it here. And make sure you have a safe, enjoyable, and restful Thanksgiving holiday.
But in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to give thanks for the great work being done by teachers, staff, parents, and students throughout the Berryessa School District. There are great things happening at all of our schools. So thank you everyone, for your dedication to providing top-notch education for Berryessa's students.
In November's Berryessa Sun, Superintendent Will Ector wrote a column highlighting some special achievements in the district. I encourage you to read it here. And make sure you have a safe, enjoyable, and restful Thanksgiving holiday.
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