Facilities and Construction

In the midst of very difficult budget times, we continue to have funds that can only support providing additional facilities for our students and staff. As many of you know, we have lots of students and teachers in temporary classroom facilities. We currently have a number of projects that provide work for our local construction industry and families while providing new permanent classrooms for our students.

As has been stated before, these construction bond funds (by law) can ONLY be used for construction of capital facilities and NOT for operational purposes. This is like bad news (can’t deflect our layoffs with this money) and good news (we can improve our classrooms for students).

These projects are currently under construction at Pachappa Elementary School, Central Middle School, Emerson Elementary School, and Mt. View Elementary School. I am including some quick pictures with the idea that possibly a picture is worth 1000 words.

Enjoy!

More Budget Information

We continue work to both close our budget gap as well as communicate information about what we are doing and what the circumstances are at any given time (as this picture is constantly changing based on modifications from the state, as well as the actions that we must take). In that regard, I provided some references to that information previously that is found in various locations on our RUSD webpage. At this time, we are also providing a Fact Sheet regarding some of the issues and information regarding the budget. As things change with time (e.g., May Revise, etc.), we will attempt to keep the Fact Sheet updated and accurate.

You can find the “button” to take you to the budget facts in the upper right hand corner of the opening RUSD webpage or click here. We hope that this continues to provide timely information to all as the situation continues to change.  Additionally, you may be interested in President Vanderzyl's OpEd piece in the Press Enterprise on Sunday.

Transparency?

I know that these are difficult times and the simple and obvious seems to be neither. My commitment is to continually work for transparency in our operations. However, that being said, I am clear that transparency is an ideal that will never be fully realized – but we can certainly get a lot closer – and then continue that journey. I know that our Board is committed to the same principle.

I understand that some of you are frustrated that we don’t have more and better transparency; however, I believe that we have made substantial progress in the past year (not that we should stop or slow the pursuit of improved transparency). My concern though is that sometimes, people are not entirely clear on what options are available to them. If I could beg your indulgence, I would like to make sure that all that read this blog are aware (based on the hyperlinks below) of the various mechanisms that are available – AND we will still work on improving our communication and transparency.

Our webpage is a great resource and the primary location of most of this information – as it makes your ability to obtain it easy (we revised it for ease) and anonymous. On the opening page are news items of note that constantly change. The Board meetings are available from the agenda (in full detail) to the minutes (yes we do get behind with our staff reductions), Board Sub-Committee meetings, and podcasts of our Board meetings. We also have updates on negotiations as that becomes available and appropriate. Relative to the budget we have essentially ALL of our budget documents online and available …e.g., independent audit reports, budget documents, interim reports, presentations, county comparison data, activities of the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC).  Obviously, there is a lot more there, but you get the idea.  Additionally, to the degree that someone wishes to request a copy of something we will make every attempt to provide it, and if you can't find it -- please ask.

We will continue to work on improving in this important area of our operation of communication and provision of information in a timely manner.

More Sad News

The Board met last night to make the next round of budget reductions to close the gap created by the State (group #4 of reductions if you are counting).  Mike Fine made a presentation outlining the specific reductions which included:

• Further reductions of Elementary Assistant Principals
• Adjustment of Middle School Assistant Principals Work Year
• Further reductions in district wide Department budgets (HR & Instructional Services in this case)
• Implementation of the previously discussed reductions in Athletics
• Elimination of all home-to-school transportation for High School (grades 7-12) students

This totals about $1.4 million and still leaves $9 million to be resolved.

This is clearly a situation where no one "wins."  It was very ironic and an unbelievable paradox that we had teachers from Mark Twain Elementary School which have been grossly effected (based on law) such that 2/3 of their teaching staff is being laid off -- while at the same time they are preparing to host a validation visit as a California Distinguished School (and we believe they will be recognized as such).  Similar circumstances are found in every phase of our operation.

This is all very painful and upsetting.  The best I can hope for is as some of the speakers asked:  ...what can we do together? ...what are we willing to do together?  While I still advocate your consistent calls and letters to our State representatives, I think our best solution is here between all of us in the Riverside / RUSD community.

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.

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.