Dear Colleagues:

As the month wears on, we are gaining a better understanding of some of the nuances of the Governor Brown’s 2012-13 budget plan and its potential impacts on public education. While some aspects of his plan are intriguing – we are anxious to know more about the Governor’s “weighted student funding” formula and proposed reduction of mandated programs – other elements are, unfortunately, grim.

The biggest problem is that we simply don’t know, at this point, how much money we should plan to receive for purposes of developing our district’s budget. Initially, it appeared that schools would be funded at this year’s level, as discussed in last week’s letter. But because the Governor’s budget is based upon an assumption that voters will pass a tax measure in November, planning for “flat funding,” would be planning for the best case scenario rather than the worst. If the tax initiative fails to pass, public schools will very likely face deep mid-year trigger cuts in early 2013.

Education finance experts are recommending school districts budget for a $370 per student reduction in revenue to account for the potential trigger cuts. In our district, that would mean an additional $15 million in cuts, on top of the $28 million already anticipated, for a total of $43 million.

We are pressing for clarity and direction on the Governor’s plan. This information cannot come soon enough. Our deadline for presenting a balanced budget to the Sacramento Office of Education is March 15. Failure to meet this deadline risks a “negative” rating, which puts us on the road to state takeover. Our Board of Education is scheduled to take action on cuts that can be made without assumptions of negotiated employee contributions its meeting on February 2.

Please keep in mind that the Governor’s budget proposal is just that – a proposal. His planned changes to education funding formulas are likely to face stiff opposition in the Legislature and from school districts and other organizations. But while the lobbying and debating continue, we must meet a clear deadline.

A series of Community Budget Forums will be held in the coming weeks to get feedback on proposed cuts to balance the district’s budget. The schedule is:

• Thursday, January 26 – Luther Burbank High School (cafeteria)
• Monday, January 30 – C.K. McClatchy High School (library)
• Tuesday, January 31 – Rosemont High School (big theater)
• Monday, February 6 – John F. Kennedy High School (main auditorium)
• Wednesday, February 8 – Hiram Johnson High School (small theater)

All meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m.  I urge you to attend a meeting and make your voice heard on crucial decisions that will affect all SCUSD schools and all employees. An online budget survey will be available on the district’s website on Thursday.

We also have created a new budget page on SCUSD’s website (www.scusd.edu/BudgetNews) that includes links to media stories, updates from Board of Education meetings and a suggestion box. It also includes facts about our finances as well as questions and answers relating to rumors and myths about the district’s budget.

We have made it through years of state cuts by working together and remaining focused on what’s important: Teaching and learning in our classrooms. Let’s move forward in the spirit of unity.  With help from our employees and our community, the district and especially our students will succeed.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Raymond
Superintendent