And the Budget Woes Continue

Yesterday afternoon, the School Board met again in the journey to close the $50 million budget gap we have for the 2010-11 school/budget year.  As reported in the Press Enterprise, this was not an occasion for celebration by any means.  After lots of discussion, the Board determined in the Group #3 Recommendations from the administration to:

• Reduce 4.0 counseling positions
• Redesign High School Staffing for administration which includes:
• a reduction of work days for all High School Assistant Principals
• replacement of 1 Assistant Principal position at each campus with a classified position that would handle many of the former duties of the Assistant Principal
• Take additional "Tier III" reductions which involves state "categorical" money
• Staff Hyatt and Bryant Elementary Schools at levels commensurate with other schools which will cause more combination classrooms and a reduction in administrative and clerical services including the sharing of a principal.  Further discussion will take place as to what the future (2011-12 and beyond) should be to meet the needs of the schools and District.
• Reductions were taken in department budgets of district-wide operations

One recommendation that is still being considered and will come back to some future meeting is a 15% ($300,000) reduction in the athletic program budgets.

NO one is happy with any of these choices, but given the budget (based on State funding) and the circumstances of the day, there is little choice.  Based on the economy, we must do as is being done in private industry, we must redesign and reinvent ourselves.  The trick is how do we make it better with less investment.

Innovation and Search for Excellence in Learning

In the middle of dark times, we still have great staff doing great work -- in fact innovative work.  I was struck today with the innovation, as we were in the Instructional Sub-Committee of the Board and staff was explaining their investigation and visitation of charter/magnet schools.  Without arguing the merits of any or all of these schools, we are gleaning strategies and ideas that help us improve and innovate in our schools.

There was also discussion of our digital textbook initiative that is changing the engagement and learning of students -- led by teachers in our high schools.  These resources are deployed across classrooms in all of our high schools PLUS they are helping to reduce the digital divide between students.  I don't know of any other school district with this kind of deployment across all of their schools.

Last, but by no means least, we are initiating a pilot AVID program that serves Middle School students that are English Language Learners (ELL).  The point of the program is to move from a deficit model to one of asset, and believe that these ELL students can, should, and will matriculate to the university level, as first-generation graduates.

In addition, we are involved with the city of Riverside and RCC in the Communities Learning in Partnership (CLIP) grant that improves the rate of post-secondary completion.  Recently, we were funded in a joint math / science project with UCR to improve math / science instruction in the middle grades (as is a focus in national data and statistics).  Frankly, I know of no other school district that is in this kind of relentless search for best practice.  We can only thank our staff for their efforts and expertise.

Great opportunity

We are blessed to have UCR in our Riverside community.  Certainly they did a great job with our Science Fair as always.  There is an additional great opportunity for all of us in the community with their Spring Science Lecture Series which starts on April 4th and then again on the 22nd.  Their topic for the season is to look (from a scientific view) at the issue of Climate Change (Causes, Impacts, Solutions).  Which seems particularly interesting given the somewhat unusual weather this winter across the US.

While I have not been able to attend previously, I am looking forward to the opportunity this Spring.  I hope this is an opportunity for you as well.

Last night was another great celebration of the work of our teachers and students through the annual Science & Engineering Fair.  The standing room only Science Fair was held at the UCR Theatre and was in collaboration with the UCR Bourns College of Engineering and UCR College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences.  In Riverside, we are blessed with not only a good educational system but one that provides value-added options for students that go above and beyond the normal/required elements of "schooling."

Science and Engineering are more than completing homework or taking a test (though those are clearly involved) but it is really about doing science.  These students and their teachers engaged the "doing" through a variety of very interesting projects including examples such as: the testing of local sushi (no not the taste test), measurement of various nitrogen dioxide levels at schools, and creating mathematical model for local use of electricity.

All of these students "won" with their engagement in the doing of science and engineering, but the sweepstakes winners for the elementary, junior, and senior divisions were:

• Connor M. -- "Soggy Crackers? I Don't Think So!"
• Saumya K. -- "Understanding Color Development in Citrus"
• Imran A., Elma F., Shanta H. -- An Analysis Between ADC Green and Wood Waste Using the Processes of Post-Hydrolysis vs. Enzymatic Hydrolysis and K-lignin

Another Option?

In an effort to "leave no stone unturned," another option for the budget process is to continually look at the revenue enhancement side.  Beyond "cutting" budgets, how can we add more dollars to the budget?  One option is to take the possibility of a Parcel Tax Assessment to our community.

Parcel Tax Assessments are not based on property value, but is a flat rate (e.g., $25 per parcel).  Additionally, there are ways to exclude particular properties (e.g., senior citizen's homes) -- if desired.  This assessment is based on a community vote that would require a 2/3 pass rate.  Often the funds are targeted to a particular program that the community values. It is one way, a community can assist themselves, if that is a desire.  A number of progressive communities across California have done exactly that.  As an example, a $25 parcel tax assessment per year, could yield $1.6 million in additional revenue.  Obviously, that revenue can be raised or lowered based on the size of the parcel tax.

Board takes required action to balance the budget

Our Board of Education last night and continued to move forward with the horrific task of balancing this year's budget.  This requires actions NO one wants to do but they/we are obligated to accomplish.  These are unprecedented times based on the size and duration of these reductions.  The essential activity undertaken is to create the new future of RUSD.  The challenge is to become both more efficient (less money) and more effective (better results) at the same time.  While that seems impossible from this perspective, will be possible, if not required, in the future.

While that Board did approve the continuation of facility renovation, etc. -- which uses funds that can ONLY be spent on capital projects and not on operational costs -- they also began making those unpopular, unhealthy budget reductions that were recommended by the BAC, cabinet, and myself.  The reductions which amounted to $26.6 million included:

• A million dollars in management cuts
• Eliminating 6 management positions -- $632,391
• Reducing the management work year by 5 days (also commonly referred to as "furlough" days) -- $450,162
• Decentralization of the Central Registration Center back to individual school sites -- $237,294
• Elimination of Secondary Library Media Assistants in our middle and high schools -- $571,617
• Revising how we clean schools at night with what is hopefully a more efficient custodial cleaning model -- $527,650 (first year savings which could grow to $800,000+ in subsequent years)
• Further reductions in Tier III special programs that adds another $1,268,186 to almost $10 million in earlier cuts
• Utilizing $22,129,264 in funds that can be used only once ("one-time") and must be replaced again next year with additional cuts at that time
• Additionally, the Board considered and tabled (pending some clarification) $744,091 in elimination of transportation from home to school of secondary students.

In a related matter, the Board also authorized employee notification ("layoff) of employees that are impacted by the budget reductions.  Those notices included teachers, managers, and instructional specialists.  As I stated at the beginning NO one is interested in making these types of decisions and reductions as it effects us, our colleagues, friends, and neighbors -- BUT there is really no choice given the reductions handed to us by Sacramento.

More Budget Information

As questions continue to be asked about our budget situation (appropriately so), we have isolated an enhanced podcast with both PowerPoint slides and audio from Mike Fine's presentation on the budget to the Board on February 1st.  I realize that it is long (about 1 hour), but it will give you the best possible synopsis of information regarding the budget in RUSD.

Additionally, if you refer to page 2 of the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) report provided on February 1st, you will see that there is a we have taken a reduction “of over $60 million in recent years.” The report goes one to say that the needed $50 million reduction represents 14% reduction in the operating budget.  IF (and we are NOT recommending this), there were a proportional reduction in all expenses -- it would equate to our teachers being reduced by 5+ weeks and a corresponding reduction of 4+ weeks for our students.  This is NOT what we are recommending, but hopefully it provides some perspective of the challenge before us.

Lincoln's Birthday and a chance to fulfill the dream?

On this day, Lincoln’s Birthday (also Holiday), it may be well to point to the recent study from UCLA that reviews charter schools and the issues of segregation and equity. While the recent Race to the Top efforts from the federal government certainly pushes the notion of broader distribution of charter schools and the accompanying parent choice, there has certainly been lots of media starting with the LA Times and beyond that are questioning issues of segregation with charters. Meanwhile there is pushback from the charter side of the house crying unfair.

Essentially, the UCLA study titled Choice Without Equity points out some of the national disparities in the balance of some charter schools and in its subtitle (Charter School Segregation and the need for Civil Rights Standards) calls for reform of the reformers in this important area. The study may be best summed up with the statement, “The charter school movement has been a major political success, but it has been a civil rights failure.” It points to disparities in ethnicity, poverty, and language (English Learner) demographics – all of which are important.

This study, which follows earlier studies of charter segregation, is not to argue the merit or non-merit of charters, but to point out what exists and lays the groundwork for further informed discussion. There is an issue with segregation in charters (though not all -- as it noted), and it should be addressed – otherwise these charter reformers are more than a bit disingenuous.

I would suggest that charters reflect the demographic makeup +/- 10% of student groups within their constituent district. What do you think?

My Thanks and Appreciation

I realize that this is a very stressful time. All of us are upset with the choices and actions that are being required of us. It affects our friends / colleagues / family members, etc. – and it hurts!!

I truly appreciate the willingness of those of you who read this blog, post comments (which requires some sense of courage), and talk about difficult subjects. We need to be able to “talk” to each other and reasonably discuss these most difficult issues – and YOU have been doing that. Thank you!!

I understand that it is even more difficult for those of you who did get layoff / reduction / etc. notices. We have been and will continue to look for ways to address these horrific issues in the most prudent manner possible.  We need to try and be a family in these most challenging times and serve our students.  I am sure that the essence & strength of our system is our people. I would continue to encourage you contact our local legislators regarding the incredible impact of these state reductions.

Bad Can Be Worse

In the midst of all this District chaos and budget upset, there is another perspective. We have many in our community that have been severely impacted by the economic downturn. We need to help each other. Many families have lost employment or a major part of their income.

From a student perspective (which represents families in our community), we have about 60% (3 out of every 5) of our students at or below the poverty line and therefore receiving federal “free or reduced” meals. We have 1,500 students that are homeless and are in fairly dire straits. Of greatest concern, we have students that we suspect ONLY get to eat when they are at school (breakfast & lunch programs). One of our local non-profit organizations come together weekly, to provide 500 of our neediest students with a backpack full of non-perishable food to assist them through the weekend. What happens to them on a 4-day "weekend" like this one? These are desperate times.

Our Mayor has appropriately talked somewhat regularly about the social capital in Riverside. I hope that part of our collective capital is going to assist those that struggle more than we do. Do you know of efforts in our community to assist others less fortunate than ourselves?

Our employees are working to do their part

We continue to look for any and all reductions that we can make to our budget to minimize the impacts. This is NOT really possible at this point as we are in our 8th year of budget reductions. Obviously, there is less and less to find and we are a long way beyond just “improving efficiency.” We were pleased this past week (finishing this week) to bring site level stakeholders together to assist us with specific recommendations about what they see as possible areas to recover some dollars. Additionally, they provided us with information about what should we continue to hold as a high priority.

One of the ideas that many have forwarded to us over time, is the notion of employees taking “furlough” days or something similar. This is an item that is generally negotiable with our employee associations – and requires their concurrence. At our next Board meeting, with the concurrence of our management / confidential employees, there is a proposal to take an on-going workyear reduction of 5 days. With 92% of our budget wrapped up in “people” costs, it is good to see our colleagues digging in to do their part and help us work towards a balanced budget.

Has It Always Been Like This?

I had the occasion to spend Friday morning at RCOE along with the other superintendents and CBOs in Riverside County listening to Ron Bennett, President & CEO, of School Services of California. Typically, Ron and SSC are regarded as the experts in education financing in California. Ron stated what has been pretty much the message from across the state – the Governor’s January budget, while not good – is probably as good as it gets. As Ron stated, “California would like to meet its obligations, but it can’t.”

Probably the most interesting and illustrative comment that Ron made was based on his long history with funding of public education in California. Ron recalled in the days of Governor George Deukmejian when we had a situation somewhat similar to this, educational spending was dreadful. We were spending at $3,500 per student and prisoners were costing the state twice that at $7,000. The most striking part of his statistics is that we are currently receiving $5,014 per student (statewide average) and the cost of incarceration is in excess of $52,000 per prisoner (over 10 times that of educational funding). Solving the problems in California may have something to do with priorities.

So What Really Happened?

So trying to understand what happened to our schools and funding is really difficult -- at least for me. It seemed that everything was going well -- when BAM!! -- the bottom falls out and we are making all kinds of cuts. When we have completed those cuts, we have to make MORE cuts -- when does it stop? Where did we ever come up with the "running on empty" concept?

Recently, Mike Fine tried to provide a bit of perspective on what has happened with state funding of education. While it does not help me "understand" -- it does give me some more perspective on how we in RUSD are caught up in this mess. Probably most illustrative is slide 12 on page 6, which shows the last several years and some future years. While we had a significant drop in funds as represented by the blue line -- we were protected temporarily by federal stimulus funds (gold line) and short-term options (red line) -- the has hidden the REAL impacts (for a short time).

Tuesday -- A Most Interesting Day

Tuesday morning I took a quick trip to Sacramento and met with the Governor's staff along with several other superintendents. NONE of us like the reductions we are taking in education and the ones that we are likely to take as the state continues to balance it's $20 Billion deficit beyond the Governor's January Budget proposal. Realizing that we are and will take reductions in educational funding -- we need to try and influence how we receive the "cuts" such that we can use them most effectively to meet the needs of our students and classrooms.

The Governor did stop by and one point and DID reiterate his commitment to protecting public education and students as well as possible with the least amount of reductions possible. Given the dire circumstances of the state budget and economy -- that is quite a statement -- which, given the circumstances, I am inclined to believe that is his intent.

Beyond all of that the discussion in and around the capitol, as we consider what our long-term issues are, continue to make the case that this situation is our "new normal" and it is unlikely that we will have a "rebound."

Difficult times with impacts to all

This is an unprecedented situation and horrific times when we have to go through the process of laying off 160 teachers last night in attempt to partially balance a $49 million deficit. This is before the "next hit" that comes with the May Revise and the Legislative wrangling. We sincerely hope that we will be able to "bring back" some or all of these teachers based on retirements, moving out of the area, and general attrition. Our teachers and our staff are what we are about -- we are in the PEOPLE business. We hope that "early notice" assists in some small manner.

We have lost $66.3 million to operate RUSD over the past 8 years. We are losing $48.9 million for this coming school year (2010-11) for a total of $115+ million. Our broad-based Budget Advisory Committee is doing heroic work to find the least oppressive solutions -- but with these losses -- program, students, and schools cannot help but be impacted.

Getting MORE for your dollar

Once again last night, at our School Board meeting, our students were honored for their work on the athletic field. The recognition was provided by the Riverside County Office of Education. While the athletes were praised for their athletic accomplishments, championships, etc. the real recognition was for their work in the classroom -- they embody the oft discussed student/athlete. These teams hold the highest collective GPAs of any of the similar teams in the county. To give you an idea of the accomplishment, several of the teams had GPAs in excess of 4.0 and one team had an average GPA of 4.27 (that's a lot of Advanced Placement classes). We often talk about value-added in our Riverside Schools and THIS certainly is a great demonstration of that enhanced value. Congratulations to:

• North High School -- Boys Water Polo Team
• Ramona High School -- Girls Golf Team
• Ramona High School -- Girls Tennis Team
• Ramona High School -- Girls Volleyball Team

These athletes and teams could not accomplish these recognitions without GREAT coaches that not only require a high level of athletic performance but support the same dedication in the classroom. One of the coaches last night talked about his required "study table" BEFORE every practice. My thanks and congratulations goes not only to the athletes, but to these committed coaches and the teacher colleagues that support their students in their athletic and academic endeavors.

The SELF help Program

An interesting study is out from well-known educational researcher, Robert Marzano. As is often his custom, he has done a meta-analysis – that is a study of other/multiple studies (14 in this case).

The research looks at a simple and somewhat intuitive strategy to help students learn and improve their achievement (something we are all interested in). Marzano calls this strategy a “hidden gem” and it can be used by parents or schools. Essentially, Marzano says that if students track their own progress they perform better. Specifically, he suggests that there is an average 32 percentile point gain in achievement when students track their own progress. However, “tracking” in and of itself is not successful. To move from mediocre to great achievement the students need to track their achievement with the following criteria:

• Use rubrics instead of points
• Use graphic displays
• Focus on a single rather than multiple goals

I guess bottomline this works for student kinda’ like it works for me -- if I know what I am doing and tracking my progress -- I perform better.