February 17, 2009
Dear Colleagues,
Please read the information below regarding last Thursday's District Budget Committee update. Do know this is an ongoing process but the committee must present a budget at the February 26th Board meeting that reflects $16 millions worth of budget cuts for the remainder of 08-09 and the 09-10 schoolyear.
I encourage you to attend the next budget meeting that is scheduled this Thursday, February 19th, 4-7 PM in the board room at the district office. Also, the primary focus of the next school board meeting will be to make the $16 million board approved recommended cuts to the San Diego County Office of Education. By filling out a 'Hold Card' at the board meeting this presents an opportunity for you to provide input to the Board regarding your concerns.
Respectfully,
Jan O' Reilly
VTA President
www.vistata.org
_________________________________________________________
VTA District Budget Committee Members February 12th Update of the Current Budget Process
Time is quickly becoming a factor as the VUSD Budget Committee seeks to find $16 million in “ongoing” cuts for the proposed 2009-2010 year. Finding $16 million is difficult in itself…but “ongoing” further complicates the task. The committee has nearly completed it’s first run through of potential cuts, will then review and revise the list, adding and reducing where possible. The final proposal to the Board must be completed by Thursday, February 19, so it can be posted and printed in the Board Packet for action at their February 26 meeting.
Some of the hotly contested considerations include staffing reductions. Approximately 80 classified positions may be eliminated or reduced. Before last Thursday’s meeting there were 54 certificated positions (FTE) on the list to be cut: 5 @ high schools, 3 @ middle schools, 1 @ elementary schools and 8 additional (overstaffed according to ADA) positions district wide. In a surprise 1-vote majority that night, the committee added a “suspended” version of the CSR to the list. The “suspended” version would convert to a 28:1 ratio and layoff 99 teachers for one year before restoring the program the following year. The “suspended” version would allow VUSD to utilize the $6 million that would normally pay for CSR for other funding purposes (cuts) next year. One of the problems VTA members see with this choice is that is not “ongoing” but just puts off $6 million in cuts for next year. Another problem VTA members see, is the growing total of teachers (153) currently targeted by the committee for potential layoffs. This item will be reviewed in greater detail, and must still pass the final scrutiny of the committee before ultimately being considered by the Board.
Administrative cuts making the list for consideration include: 4 at the District Office in addition to the unfilled Grant Writer position and 4 at the site level (APs).
Home-to-school transportation is proposed to take a 50% cut (a savings of $569,825) but this item is to be reviewed.
The new high school is proposed to open but at a student population of 500 (9th) instead of 1000 (9/10th) for a start-up cost of $540,000, much lower than the original $1.5 million.
LMB ($3.4 million in categorical funding) is currently being reviewed for certain reductions and possible elimination. The Budget Committee met with representatives from the DAIT group advising our District on how to improve our performance. Other, less costly, interventions may be considered. Note: the returning of LMB TOSAs to the classroom could result in the elimination of as many as 10-25 more teachers currently covering their classes.
Other items being considered are the closing of the IMC ($190,000) and Vista Focus Academy ($165,000). The Washington MS pool, currently closed due to necessary repairs, may be temporarily closed at a substantially lower cost than the needed repairs to reopen.
Expenditures on facilities are to cut $310,000. Reducing routine maintenance to 2% will produce a one-time use of $1.9 million. Continuing the hiring freeze for unfilled positions will save $230,000 “ongoing”.
Adopting the California State graduation requirements (pass the CAHSEE and 220 credits) would generate a yet to be determined savings. Approving this issue would lead to discussions/debate as to what 10 previously required credits to eliminate from the current 230 needed.
District and site level operating budgets are being reduced and many other items are still being considered.
The committee is nearing the $16 million threshold, but still has an alarming distance to go if that number is to be “ongoing”. The committee has been so focused on reaching the $16 million that it has yet to quantify the educational impact of its recommendations. That discussion will come next week.
Respectfully submitted by JB Barton, Ron Ferreirae, and Randy Wiens.
www.vistata.org