Monday Memo

The Superintendent puts out a Monday Memo each week. We are going to begin putting them on the blog to allow our readers to comment or ask questions about the Monday Memo. In addition, we may annotate the memos with our thoughts and comments. Where we annotate, we will make it very clear that you are reading our comments, not the Superintendent's. MDUSD MONDAY MEMO A Weekly Update of District Activities and Education-related Issues from the Superintendent's Office, Mt. Diablo Unified School District Week of May 19, 2008 This week's Monday Memo is coming to you on Tuesday so I can report on a workshop about the state budget that I attended yesterday, May 19, in Sacramento. At the session school finance experts explained the impact of Governor Schwarzenegger's latest budget proposal on public school district budgets. Tonight, May 20, the MDUSD Board of Education and the District Budget Advisory Committee will meet in a joint study session to review and discuss the latest budget information. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the District's administrative office, 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.

District's Budget Picture is Brighter

On Wednesday, May 14, Governor Schwarzenegger released a revision to the state budget for fiscal year 2008-09 that he had proposed last January. Called the "May Revise," this new proposal provides more money for public education than the January one. Initially there was talk of suspending Proposition 98, the statewide initiative that guarantees that 40 percent of state revenues be allocated to K-12 public education. The May Revise does not call for suspending that guarantee. Background As of May 13, 2008, the Board of Education had approved reductions in the 2008-09 budget totaling $17 million in a combination of one-time and on-going expenses. This action was based on the Governor's January proposal, when he asked for cuts across all state departments and programs. Public school districts were told to expect $4.8 billion less in state funding in 2008-09 than we received in 2007-08. Based on that information, Mt. Diablo Unified initially had to reduce $14 million to balance the budget for 2008-09 and beyond. It looked as if another $7.2 million in reductions would be needed to eliminate a projected revenue-expenditure gap in 2009-10 and 2010-11.Toward that goal, the Board approved $3.6 million in budget cuts at its May 13 meeting. Impact of May Revise on MDUSD Budget If the State Legislature approves the Governor's May Revise, we will not have to make any further cuts to maintain a balanced budget over the next three years, the required timeframe for school district budgets. Highlights of the Governor's proposal: We should receive the same base Revenue Limit (i.e., state funding of $5,779 per student attendance day) next year, 2008-09, as we received this year, 2007-08. There is no Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) in the state budget for 2008-09. Funding for categorical, aka "Restricted," programs (i.e., ones specifically designated for funding, such as School Improvement) is reduced, but districts have more flexibility to transfer funds from Restricted to Unrestricted (General Fund) accounts. The amount that must be set aside for Routine Restricted Maintenance expenses drops from 3 percent to 2 percent of the District budget. There is less state funding for Deferred Maintenance projects, but districts no longer have to match the amount they receive from the state. They formerly had to allocate one-half of 1 percent of the prior year's expenditure budget to Deferred Maintenance. This is indeed better news for the District. Not only will we not have to make further cuts, but if the State Legislature approves the May Revise, we should expect the District to receive $5 million more next year, 2008-09, than we did this year, 2007-08. That amount would wipe out the $3.5 million revenue-expenditure gap we'd projected for 2010-11. If the Governor's proposal holds true, we should be able to present a positive budget to the Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools. (One note of caution: We still do not know the impact of reduced funding for categorical programs or the possibility of new expenses for Special Education services.) While we may not have to make any more cuts, we still must be resourceful in managing our finances. We need to find enough money to settle employee contract negotiations before adding back any positions or programs that were cut. Even though the funding picture looks a little brighter, we still lack a sustainable local investment in education, which would help us provide competitive compensation for our employees and maintain effective programs for our students. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your patience and support as we have gone through this very painful process of budget reductions. We definitely have some work ahead of us. If our revenues improve, it promises to be a positive undertaking.

Community meetings continue; Report on Mt. Diablo High attendance area session

The sixth in a series of community meetings for parents, staff, and students throughout the District was held May 6 in the Mt. Diablo High attendance area. A second meeting in Pleasant Hill will be held on Wednesday, May 28, in order to address questions and concerns held over from the first. The session will be held at Sequoia Middle School beginning at 7:30 p.m. Report of Mt. Diablo High attendance area meeting, May 6 More than 100 people attended the May 6 community meeting at Mt. Diablo High School. The group included all five Board members, 30 administrators, 25 students and parents, and approximately 50 teachers. The first part of the session was dedicated to answering questions from teachers. Teacher Concerns, Questions What is being done to attract and retain quality teachers? We have been negotiating with the teachers' union since Spring 2007 to provide a more competitive wage packet, including a return to District-paid medical benefits, for teachers. The last offer, in November 2007, was as follows: 2007 2008 2009 1 Party Medical Plan $3,000 $4,000 $4,300 2 Party Medical Plan $3,000 $5,000 $8,500 Family Medical Plan $3,000 $6,000 $11,000 Salary 1% mid year 1% mid year The union bargaining team rejected this offer. Compensation offers to all employee bargaining units were put on hold in January after the Governor announced the state fiscal crisis. In response, the District reduced expenses by $14 million as of March with more budget cuts expected on May 13. The Board of Education has established a priority that any additional money coming into the district will go to fund the compensation increases offered to teachers and other employees in negotiations. Why wasn't money set aside for teachers' increased cost of medical benefits as it was for other District employees? $1.8 million was initially included in the 2007-08 budget for teachers' medical benefits. It was offered to the teachers' union bargaining team in April 2007 specifically to offset the cost of medical benefits. The offer was not accepted. In March 2008, as a budget reduction strategy, the money was used to cover other expenses to save teaching positions. Restoring the money set aside for teachers' medial benefits will be a priority if new money is received. Why aren't teachers valued by the District? Teachers are valued. We provide training, support, and fair working conditions. We have attempted to begin paying for the cost of medical benefits to increase teacher compensation. What can be done to keep so many teachers from leaving? Better salary including medical benefits and supportive working conditions. Why was the money allocated for teachers' medical benefits used? To save teaching positions. If this money had not been used on a one-time basis, more teachers would have lost their jobs. Why do other bargaining units have a budget for increases in medical benefits and the teachers do not have money budgeted for the next three years? The other units negotiated for the District to pay medical benefit cost increases as part of their contract. Therefore, the money must be budgeted. Years ago the teachers' union voted to take salary instead of medical benefits. The contract does not require money to be set aside for teachers' medical benefits, but $1.8 million was initially set aside to help offset the cost of teachers medical benefit payments. There were more questions about contract negotiations, but a decision was made to postpone those to the end of the meeting and respond to questions and concerns from parents and students. Parent and Student Concerns, Questions Please explain the decision to issue pink slips to teachers. The District issued approximately 320 layoff notices-to 189 probationary teachers and 131 temporary teachers. This was necessary because more than 85 teaching positions were eliminated from the budget along with 60 management and classified positions. Describe the process around the decision to build the fence at Mt. Diablo High School. The Concord City Council, downtown merchants, and other community groups and agencies expressed concerns about the number of young people downtown during the school day. There was also a concern about the number of non-Mt. Diablo High School students entering the campus during the school day. After several community meetings with the police department and administrators from the District and a joint meeting of the Concord City Council and the MDUSD Board of Education, a wrought iron fence was proposed as a way to limit access to the campus and make it more difficult for students to leave. The plan is to have a Campus Supervisor posted at the fence to monitor who is arriving and/or leaving campus. The Concord City Council approved funding to pay for the fence. The District approved the installation of the fence. Why weren't parents included in the decision to build the fence? We should have informed parents about the issues being raised by the city council, police department, and downtown merchants. There were discussions for close to a year. By the time the fence was proposed as a helpful solution to students leaving campus, the decision was made quickly by the city council and school district. Review both state and district budget issues. Please see responses reported for other community meetings in previous issues of the Monday Memo. Why are English learners kept in the same English class for so long? English learners are advanced through increased levels of English Language Development (ELD) classes as they master English of varying degrees of difficulty. The goal of ELD is to enhance students' mastery of English so they can transition to English-only classes. Is it possible to establish a Newcomers' Academy for English learner students where they could get intensive support? We don't have a Newcomers' Academy at any school site. The present district model consists of an initial assessment of English language skills and placement in ELD classes at the student's school based on the assessment. Students initially receive up to three hours of instruction in their primary language. The time is reduced to two, then one hour of ELD instruction. Will budget cuts affect academy programs and electives? The academy programs were not touched. Some smaller electives may be eliminated. This will not be known until after student registration. The Board approved eliminating all non-mandated classes with fewer than 20 students as part of budget reductions several years ago. The major impacts of budget reductions for students are: Increase in class size Reduction in library time at middle and high schools from 100% to 80% Elimination of Option 1 (20:1) Kindergarten Class Size Reduction at 14 elementary schools. Schools will retain Option 2, which means Kindergarten students will have at least 100 minutes of instruction in a class of 20 students or less. Why aren't there enough books for students? There should be enough books. If students are not issued a textbook for class work, please let the principal know so that books can be provided. There is a budget for textbooks. What is Mt. Diablo High School doing about its lack of technology (computers) for student use? We continue to purchase more computers and provide training. Each secondary school has computer labs and technology centers for student use under the supervision of a teacher. What can be done to get more parents involved? We need to continue to ask parents to get involved, define the tasks they can do, and provide them with training and support. The District will train parents on the establishment of a parent patrol. We will continue to assist parents who want to volunteer in our schools with the cost for fingerprinting and completion of criminal background checks. How can we work together to get more support for our schools? We need to all get behind a parcel tax so that we will have a sustainable source of revenue for employee compensation and student programs. Other districts work together on parcel taxes. We can do the same.

In others' words . . . on thinking positively

"An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight... The truly wise person is color-blind."~ Albert Schweitzer "I am glad I am an optimist. The pessimist is half-licked before he starts."~ Thomas A. Buckner, singer "The sun shines not on us, but in us."~ John Muir

Northgate Jazz, Smooth at Yoshi's

Last night, the Northgate High School Jazz Band shone at Yoshi’s in Oakland! Paul Strange and I were honored to attend at the invitation of Northgate Instrumental Music Booster member Lori Rogala. When we arrived at the sold out 8:00 PM show, we were able to squeeze into a couple of chairs and were treated to almost 2 hours of great jazz.

Several times during the performance the Northgate Jazz Band was joined on stage by other noted jazz musicians from the Bay Area. The Northgate High school Jazz Band is a testament to the talents of our students and the efforts of instructor Mr. Greg Brown and all of the other music teachers that serve the students of the Mt. Diablo School District. It is also a testament to the support of the parents of these fine students, many of which were in the audience last night, as well as the dedication that these students have shown for their musical Passion.

Attending the concert last night is proof positive that we have a strong music program in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and loosing any part of our music program would truly be a shame. If we did not have 4^th and 5^th grade music in our school district, many of the musicians that we watched last night would not have been on that stage.

From the Contra Costa Times:

This year's Northgate Jazz Band received unanimous superior ratings from judges at the 2008 Folsom Jazz Festival in January, the highest ranking possible at an adjudicated school music event. Professional and semi-professional musicians and music educators judge the festival. The band plays styles ranging from Ellington to Mingus to straight-ahead and Latin jazz. Six seniors, six juniors, seven sophomores and five freshmen make up the 2007-2008 band.

Edgardo Cambón, who will play with the school's band, is the founder and leader of Candela, a nine piece salsa band based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1987. He has taught at UCLA, Fresno State, and UC Berkeley, and he has given workshops in many cities in the U.S., South America and Europe.

The band's Yoshi's performance raised funds for the Northgate Instrumental Music Boosters. The boosters purchase musical instruments, arrange transportation to school music festivals, and provide other support to the instrumental music program at the school.

Congratulations to the Northgate Jazz Band!

More Money to Compete for Our Teachers

As Mt. Diablo continues to struggle with competitive compensation due to its low unrestricted revenue per student, San Ramon Valley Unified is set to gain a further advantage in the compensation game. The Contra Costa Times has endorsed SRVUSD's effort to increase its local parcel tax from $90 to $166, which is on the June 3 ballot.

If Mt. Diablo were able to secure a $166 per parcel tax, it would generate $12,500,000.00 per year to support the district. While this is not enough to solve our problems, it certainly would help us weather the state budget cuts. Once again, San Ramon is going to be in a far superior financial position as compared to Mt. Diablo. We will continue to struggle to compete for teachers and employees until our local community agrees to rectify this situation.

Read the CCTimes endorsement of SRVUSD's Measure D HERE.

Good News!

As I said at the board meeting on Tuesday, Gary and I would like to report on more good news in the district. Today, we have had nothing but good news - the Olympic trial, the Woodside celebration and the CV Drama announcement - but we need more!

Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators and Staff - send us your good news stories and we will post them. The most efficient way for us to do that is for you to write it up like a news story and send it to us. Please let us know if you want credit or if you prefer to remain anonymous. If you have pictures (pictures are good), attach them to your email and we will include them.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!

I am moving this to the top again to see if we can generate more comments - thanks to those who commented so far!

One of the highlights of the Teacher Appreciation Event is the student board representatives speaking about the teacher who had the greatest impact on the student's lives. We don't hear enough of this and I know it is inspiring to teachers.

Alright students, teachers, parents and community members - let's hear about your favorite teachers and what you learned from them! Click on Comments below to add your story!

Woodside FUN!

At Woodside Elementary, the students were in for a treat in celebrating their success in the Spell-A-Thon fundraiser.

Full armour, full contact jousting ON HORSEBACK! Yes, horses on the field! 3 of them in fact. The Knights of Avalon came to Woodside as the featured guest performers at a celebratory assembly honoring the students' efforts in their recent spell-a-thon fundraiser.


Click HERE for the rest of the story and more pictures on the MDUSD Parents Blog!

Don't Miss Tonight! CV DRAMA PRESENTS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM!

Clayton Valley Drama Presents

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Tom Wills

May 15, 16

CVHS MU Rm

7 PM

$5 at the door
CVHS - 1101 Alberta Way, Concord, CA

“Oh, What fools these mortals be!”