Perris Valley Line

I don't know about you -- but I am concerned by what has been called the Perris Valley Line -- which is an extension of the Riverside Metrolink to Perris by RCTC (Riverside County Transportation Commission).  We all surely understand and can even support the enhancement of transportation in our area or any other metropolitan area.  That is certainly good for all of us.  However, at what cost?

My fear is that while we currently have a stable situation with limited risk -- THIS solution has unacceptable risk for our RUSD students and staff.  The current situation involves two of our schools and very limited train traffic and low speed of travel.  RCTC is suggesting track improvement that will ultimately mean many more trains and much greater speed on the section of track that is adjacent to the Highland and Hyatt Elementary Schools.

To give you some perspective on the issue, I have included above a picture of the train situation at Hyatt Elementary along with a YouTube video of some of the issues.  At Hyatt there are concerns about a train derailment that could land on the Hyatt playground with students.  In Highland's case, there are the normal train issues and complications; however, there is a privately owned high-pressure fuel line (to March Air Base) which has potential with great speed and numbers of trains to create a situation with some similarity to the recent San Bruno disaster.

What can you do, if you have concerns?  Certainly contact our local representatives on the RCTC, including our Riverside City Councilman -- Steve Adams or his alternate, Councilman Andy Melendrez.

Budgets and Money

We had the Riverside Legislative Summit on Friday with our various legislators and the California Secretary of Education.  One of the more interesting statements that was made and reported in the Press Enterprise was regarding the relationship between money and performance.  It seems at some level we always go there and yet rarely get what I would consider to be the whole story.  In this case, I understand that basic notion presented -- however, it seems that we miss some of the relevant information that exists in our current times and circumstances.

I don't think anyone would contest that learning (when it has value) costs something (money).  So the question becomes how much money and what is the priority of those funds within the economy and spending patterns.  Obviously the corollary is that money alone does not equate to performance in education or, for that matter, anything else (probably the best example I can provide is the recent blog post I provided).  That issue of equity and levels of California funding was recently presented in what I would consider a fair manner by a Silicon Valley blogger, John Fensterwald.  To be clear, I am not asking for "Newark funding" -- just pointing out that money obviously has a connection and it needs to appropriate.

Additionally, it has long been understood that poverty never caused poor performance in learning.  However, it has long been understood that it has been associated (correlated) with educational performance.  I can point out that while I can take no credit for this, RUSD has shown a longitudinal overcoming of that poverty/learning correlation (as demonstrated below).  While levels of affluence have dropped in the community (as a function of free/reduced lunch counts), levels of learning (math and language arts) have improved.  While that is great and kudos to our teachers and all staff, I will be the first to say that we can do even better -- and we are!

Biker's Paradise

As promised there was the Citrus Classic this weekend.  It was a great ride that provided lots of different venues of Riverside {I saw places I had never seen}.  The Leadership Riverside Class of 2010 is the best ever as they had about 600 riders and are still counting their money (though I understand they are expecting more that $30k to provide to REEF and AEF).

For me, it was a great day with colleagues, friends, and community.  I rode the 27 mile version -- though some of our principals rode the more exciting distances.  I rode most of the ride with Lanna Goffman -- one of our administrators.  She was kind and waited for me to catch up along the way.  A good chunk of the Board of Education and Cabinet were running the rest stop about 1/2 way along the way -- just before the Santa Ana River Trail.

I am sure that Lanna wondered what happened, as she was ahead of me -- and yet I finished before her.  Explanation -- I got lost ...but was found by a bike-riding Marine who guided me back to safety and the finish (orientation skills).  Like I said a great ride with great people.  The money goes to our kids/teachers in RUSD and Alvord Education Foundation.  So this was the 1st annual Ride -- I am already looking forward to the 2nd annual ride -- though I probably should get in shape this time.

Thanks again to Leadership Riverside and all the great sponsors that participated and made it a great day.

Citrus Classic

Well I am trying to get ready for the big ride (Citrus Bike Classic) this weekend for the benefit of our students and staff -- hope you are as well.  Citrus Classic was the "brainchild" and project for the 2010 Leadership Riverside group and is intended to be a 3 year project (making the Classic an annual event). 

I took my bike in for its "tune-up" and its looking good.  I am signed up for the event. There's only one problem -- I am not "tuned up."  Oh well, it should be fun on Sunday anyway and definitely for a GREAT cause -- our RUSD and Alvord kids

Attached is a picture from last Saturday of some of our principals as they "train" and help set up the route for the Classic.  Who are they?  I am looking forward to Sunday's ride -- hope to see you there!

Rick

And the Future of Public Education?

More than once since I have been here in RUSD, people have asked me -- So what will the schools of the 21st Century really be like? This is a really tough question with any answer being a GUESS. My suspicion is that it is likely to be much different than any of our estimates -- as it is a very volatile time with much change on every level -- including non-public school levels.

Recently, we adopted our newest RUSD technology plan (vision) available online (as you might expect). This particular plan not only addresses the normal technology purchasing provisions {as required by the State} BUT in this case it begins with an attempt to foresee what 2020 might look like in RUSD (and elsewhere) classrooms. The 2020 theme is included throughout and is linked to the federal documents: Blueprint for Reform and the National Technology Plan for Education.

There is a bit of a trap for those that might be reading this to believe that I/we don't appreciate what we currently have and what public education has done for all of us (me included).  Without going into my personal story and the stories of others -- be clear I/we appreciate what we have gained from the current system.  BUT it doesn't mean that we shouldn't be and aren't concerned about how to make public schools even better.

I believe that our tech plan committee did a great job with a tough question and have at the very least laid out a clear vision of what we might expect in 2020. You might find it to be interesting reading AND there will be opportunity for inclusion in future committees to implement the plan. Additionally, it would be interesting to know what YOU think.

Finally a Budget

After 100 days and over 3 months past the deadline for the state budget we finally have one. Early Friday morning the Legislature passed the budget and sent it on to the Governor’s desk for signature. Friday afternoon, the Governor signed the budget along with about $1 Billion in line-item vetoes – thus the saga finally ends. It was only a couple of years ago when our total budget in California was $110 Billion – this budget comes in at $87.5 Billion.


Of course, now we are left with trying to figure out what all of it means, as most of it was done “behind closed doors” – such that even the Legislators arguably had limited information about what they were voting on. Additionally, as of about noon – no one seemed to know exactly what was in the Billion dollars of line-item veto items.

In a general sense, from all sources including the staffers of the Sacramento folks – there was something here for everyone. However, even in their terminology this is a budget of “smoke and mirrors” that is not realistic and leaves in place huge deficits along with a structural deficit for the future (read 2011-12 – 9 months away). There has been an overestimation of the revenues (“counting on money that is not there”) including federal help, sale of state buildings (that we will rent back from the new landlords), and optimistic tax revenues. Meanwhile there has been an under-estimation of the expenditures – that are surely going to be exceeded. So those that are newly elected in November will have quite a task on their hands in January as they take office.

As far as K-12 education, it seems that we are okay for the current year -- IF you believe the promise and that there won't be mid-year reductions from the newly elected state folks.  There is great concern about the deferrals (another $1.7 Billion) and a general acknowledgement that all of this makes next year (2011-2012) -- which was viewed as a "bad" year -- worse.

Kudos to UCR for $10 million for their/our Med School.  As we figure this all out and its impact on public education & RUSD we will let you know.

Why is this so complicated?

We rightfully continue to get questions about the budget and requests for information.  We are committed to both transparency and communication about District operations -- including the budget/finances.  However, we should realize that we will always fall somewhat short of that goal and will always be in pursuit of perfection and completion of the transparency/communication target.

Essentially all financial documents are stored on our District webpage for public access and review.  Additionally, as we prepare explanatory documents regarding the budget -- they too are available in similar webpage locations.

As an example, yes -- as reported, we have a $71 million fund balance that goes from one year (2009-10) to the next (2010-11) -- this clearly shown in our documents.  Additionally, Mike Fine has explained this on a number of occasions -- most recently at our September 7th Board meeting (with the materials available at and the Board podcast which is also on the website).  We also try to provide "short" documents that explain as simply as we can (without detail) the circumstances of the budget.

Commonly, there seems to be concern and confusion about why we are having such a tough time offering what we always have in terms of services and options for students and parents.  The fact is that we have, as a reduction in state funding (our income), had to reduce almost $100 million in the past 3 years.  Looked at another way, Do you remember the year 2000?  When:

• Bill Clinton was President
• Harry Potter didn't have a movie and glasses yet
• The "hot" movie was Erin Brockovich
• and before 9/11 had terrifying meaning

That is the "new" level of funding we have in California (and RUSD) for public schools.  I am sure that a number of you have the same problem.  However, the fact is that while "income" may be pegged at 2000 levels prices and costs somehow remain at 2010 levels on their way to 2011.  A "lost decade" effects families and effects schools/students.

Budget Watch

Sacramento says that the budget is complete -- though there are NO details yet as to what that might mean.  The NEXT step is to move to the Legislature for a vote.  The projection for the vote is Thursday, though there is some discussion about that being too soon -- as it is not enough time for the legislators to know what they are voting on.  I am sure we will get more details throughout the week.

An Opportunity of Support

For those of you who are so inclined, there is a local run, next Sunday (Ocotber 10th) -- that supports the efforts of SmartRiverside with our students and families.  SmartRiverside and their efforts have certainly assisted RUSD in delivering more technology to our students and staff.

A recent shift at SmartRiverside is that their ATT contract for the city-wide wireless system has ended and therefore been modified.  The net effect is that there now actually a greater bandwidth (capacity) that is being provided across the City of Riverside to all of us.

So IF you like to run, Citrus Heritage Run is not only a great run -- but a great cause.

$100 Million??

I was pleased to hear last week about the $100 million contribution from Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook to the Newark Public Schools in Newark, New Jersey. What a great contribution!


But from my perspective in Riverside, CA – HOW bizarre!! For that matter, this feels a bit like the bizarre qualities of much of the “federal reform” of the states-rights educational systems. Newark, like much of the East Coast, is funded at an incredible level compared to anything here in California or more locally in Riverside. So here are the statistics (by THEIR report to their Board – 3/29/2010):

• Enrollment: 38,400 (for 09-10)
• Budget: $800 million (10-11) plus another $140 million in “grants and entitlements” …they like us in RUSD lost about $50 million for this current year
• Per student funding: $14,658 per student

In contrast, here in Riverside, RUSD’s numbers are:

• Enrollment: 42,631 students
• Budget: $297 million (10-11) …and we reduced about $45 million in our budget this past year
• Per student funding: $4,990 per student

So what was the Newark difference in performance? While each state is substantially different in their assessment, it is clear from the Great Schools website analysis that Newark is significantly below the New Jersey state average in every category.

While I truly wish Newark and Zuckerberg all the best, it boggles my mind to think how $100 million in the Newark system will make ANY difference at this point. It also strikes me these differences are larger than Riverside and Newark – it essentially describes a difference between the East and West coast in its funding and therefore the educational opportunities that can be provided.