NEW Deal

So it is one day later and I am apparently wrong – but still an uninformed, speculating superintendent.  Yesterday, according to Sacramento there was a budget deal that was made (2 weeks after the June 15^th deadline).  It has been announced but not many details yet – including actual budget language and passage of the measure (THAT’s when we have a budget).

Republicans are not and have not been part of this budget deal, which leaves us wondering what their role is in Sacramento (post Prop 25)?  Predictably, they are opposed to the deal, but it doesn’t matter as a majority vote (Democratic) prevails in the matter.  Bottom line, this now moves to getting the actual legislation written and approved as law (which is not instantaneous).

What does it say?

• Essentially things are better, as they are projecting $4 Billion more in revenue (without an especially strong rationale)
• Schools are more or less treated the same as they were this last year (no cuts), though there is a new $2 Billion deferral.  There are some other tweaks in there that are long-term -- but that remains to be seen.
• The BIG question is posed in January 2012 (6 months away), IF the revenue projections are not as suggested -- THEN there is an "automatic" trigger that potentially reduces schools by $350 per student and imposes a 10 day reduction of the school year without requiring collective bargaining with employees.  This really does expose schools -- just a 6 month reprieve.

Stay tuned, it could be a hot 4th of July.

Things are "hot" in Sacramento

Interesting shift of things as California State Controller John Chiang determined that the Legislature did not reach the Prop 25 threshold and therefore all Legislators don’t get paid – as they didn’t have a “balanced budget.”  The reality is that this is new territory as the majority party can pretty much do what they want – though they have to “balance” the budget and that requires arguably some reductions and changes that they may not be interested in making.  In the past, there has always been a partisan argument and defense (they won't let us do it!!).  However, with Prop 25 they can’t “blame” it on the Republicans as their vote is NOT required and frankly at this point they appear to be somewhat irrelevant.

So bottomline, this looks like it is going to have to be a deal between the Governor and the Democratic party.  Meanwhile the Dems and the unions aren’t all that interested in a tax vote (not surprisingly), as all the numbers say it loses and the unions are saying they don’t want to pay for a losing ballot issue.  Probably most interesting to me is that with the action of Chiang this really goes back to a “do-over” proposition AND my guess is that no one expected that and therefore it will take several weeks at best to begin to get something together to propose and produce as a California budget.  Regardless of the temperature, I am sure it will be a “hot” summer in Sacramento.

But then I am an uninformed, speculating school superintendent.  What do you think is going to happen?

We have a budget …but nobody is happy

Yesterday, as many predicted, the budget was passed and the Legislators get paid again. But as some would say, this will NOT be the last budget for the year (remember this last year). Not surprisingly, as indicated yesterday in my post, there are all kinds of gimmicks and smoke. Beyond the impacts to K-12 education (both short and long-term), I am really concerned about the Higher Education reductions. This is a serious concern for the long-term health of the state and our economy. How do we grow out of our economic “hole” when we cut off or reduce one of the primary drivers of our economy?


The “fun” in Sacramento yesterday was capped off with references to the “Soprano’s” and a potential fist-fight on the floor of the Assembly. Beyond all the budget trauma and battling which borders on the bizarre, there is an interesting column on the political scenario that surrounds all of this hoopla.

The problem locally is that we have learned we can’t trust Sacramento and need to continue to plan for mid-year reductions and more. Our calculations keep telling us that there will continue to be reductions as the real problem has not been resolved and this is NOT a balanced budget.

P.S. -- In late breaking news, the Governor has vetoed the budget plan ...so now we start all over!!

Budget, want a budget? Here's a budget!

So today is supposed to be the deadline for the State to adopt a budget (i.e., the Legislature to send such to the Gov).  According to Prop 25, the Legislators don't get paid from this point on IF there is no budget.  SO, rumor has it that they will begin seriously this morning at 11 am (check it out on CalChannel on the web.

The theory is that since there has been NO bi-partisan agreement, the Dems will just pass a majority vote measure (don't need Rep for that) that puts something in place along with extended revenue measures.  Meanwhile, there is hope for an election, etc. to cope with the issue of taxes (which balance the budget).  Much like last year, they will adopt a budget and then discover they really don't have enough money in the bank to make it work (remember Sept // Nov of last year?). 

To get all of this done:

• schools will get more deferrals (schools you can borrow more ...just not get more?)
• we will sell State buildings in downtown Sacramento (they don't need them anymore?)
• more cuts to higher ed
• taking money from First 5
• etc.

The Governor then has 2 weeks to sign or veto the budget.  Does anyone get the sense that we just moved from the bizarre to crazy?

RTTT – Déjà Vu

The beat of the federal drums keeps on drumming. Now, we have the 3rd round of Race To The Top (RTTT). But don’t worry you can’t apply. In a recent announcement, the federal Department of Education announced this new opportunity for those that didn’t quite make it previously (California included). Needless to say, the CORE group of 7 school districts is excited and optimistic about the potential of additional funding.


Meanwhile, it seems that there are those in other states and the National Governors Association that are a bit more skeptical. They are concerned for the lack of transparency and the seemingly arbitrary exclusion of almost 30 states from the “competition.”  Before this is all over, the federal DOE may be interested in the opinion and support of the National Governors Association, as public education is a states rights issue.

So if we have raced to the top twice before, is this really a race to the TOP?

Graduation

It certainly was great to see and participate in the 5 graduation/promotion ceremonies this past week.  I know that there were others across Riverside as well (though they tell me I only be in one place at one time).  It is always great to see students achieve and succeed -- which was surely obvious from these events.  My thanks and that of the District and community to all the great teachers and staff that assisted and supported these students in their 13 year journey to graduation.  Great job!!

It was also great to see the Publications crew along with their army of students produce the first-ever live streaming of the Arlington HS and Earhart Middle School commencement.  I know there were grandparents that, due to physical disability, were not able to attend the Arlington event that could see their students in "real-time."  I know that during the Arlington event we had over 200 viewers.  You can see these videos along with many other great things on our video site at:  http://www.rusdvideo.org/

Here are just a view of my pictures and remembrances from this past week.

Congrats to the Huskies

Congrats to the JW North Boys Baseball team that won the CIF Championship last night in Dodger Stadium over OC Esperanza.  The score wasn't even close at 7-1.  Even the OC Register finally gives JW North its due and demonstrates its great to be a Riversider.  As outlined in the LA Times  this is a team that has grown in its competitiveness and skill.  Great job Huskies!!

Future?

During these times of chaos, the persistent question always seems to be what will it look like when we get to the other side of this recession and we compete in global economy? There are lots of speculative answers, for sure; however, I ran across this interesting blog post from Seth Godin.


The post addresses the issue of libraries and librarians in an age where people increasingly have Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and the like – AND where Amazon now sells more electronic books than hard copy books by a growing number. It also takes a historical look first at the issue, before Godin looks at the prospective issue.

What is your perspective?

Budget?

The Governor did issue his May Revision which is better than we had hoped but essentially the same as his original budget in January. There was a serious up-tick in the tax revenues ($3 Billion) which they are projecting will sustain itself for the next two years (to $6 Billion). However, the real question is will it be any different than January when Governor Brown issued about the same thing but got nowhere in actually enacting the budget.


My guess is that the Governor is an experienced politician that learned a lot in the January to March sequence and won’t make the same errors again. I think he understands that with Prop 25 he really doesn’t need the Republicans (though he did send the olive branch back in January / February) AND the legislators are motivated differently than before, as failure to enact a budget means they don’t get paid. Further, unlike prior years when it took 2/3 to pass the budget, now it only takes a simple majority (which would suggest there is no longer a Big 5 only a Big 3).

It should be interesting to watch in the next 30 to 60 days to see if it really is different AND successful.