SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school

Sacramento Press / SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school Sunday, June 14, 2009 Login Sign Up Front Page Politics Business People Culture Crime Sports Tag Cloud SEARCH GO SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school by Samantha Corbin, published on June 12, 2009 at 8:09AM Storyline: Education Community Tags: board of education budget budget cuts children diana rodriguez donald terry education ellyne bell gustavo arroyo patrick kennedy richard houseman roy grimes samantha corbin school school board scusd students summer school susan miller The SCUSD Board of Education voted 5 – 1, with 1 abstention, to drastically reduce summer school programs for the next two years - effective immediately. The decision eliminates all programs for elementary and middle school students, and reduces summer school for high school students. In addition, special education programs will be reduced and adult school programs will either be reduced or converted to a fee based system. The decision will also impact almost 300 district employees, some of whom planned to report to work as early as today. In her opening statements, Interim Superintendent Susan Miller stressed that the budget for this and next fiscal year was balanced as of May 14th, but then “the bottom fell out” and the district was forced to use stimulus funds. She added that they were leaving “no stone unturned” but that after years of “cutting to the core of instruction” vital services including employee contracts, support staff and transportation were being considered for cuts. Ellyne Bell (Area 1), the only member to vote against the decision, asked what resources the district would provide to schools who will now be charged with the difficult task of bringing students up to grade level without summer school programs. Miller had no clear solutions to offer and stated only that it would be “reasonable to expect that (schools) will have to lead the charge to work (extra instruction) into the school year” and that the district would make “assisting them a high priority.” Bell expressed deep reservations regarding the suggestion and reminded the board that they “made a commitment to keep cuts as far away from kids as possible.” Board Member Diana Rodriguez (Area 5) raised questions regarding alternative options, such as charging a small fee for summer school. While SCUSD counsel suggested this might violate the K-12 constitution for California, district staff admitted the matter had not been researched. No other alternative options were presented to the board. The proposal also contained no information on the long-term impact of eliminating summer school programs for below grade level students. With most summer schools slated to begin on June 22 and some beginning as early as today, the board had little time to consider researching other options. Nine members of the community spoke publicly against further reduction of summer school programs, urging the board to “just say no, for a change” and expressing frustrations about the lateness of the proposal. Rate Community 7 0 Flags Your Tags Add tags to headline... http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9332/SCUSD_Board_of_Education_approves_drastic_reduction_of_summer_school[06/14/2009 12:34:58 PM] Sacramento Press / SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school Supt. Miller addressed the crowd directly, urging them to understand that there were no ulterior motives behind the lateness of the special meeting. Current budget conditions left the district with no choice but to take immediate action. Donald Terry (Area 3) also spoke frankly to the audience. He applauded his colleagues for making tough decisions in a difficult budget year and encouraged attendees to “pick up a newspaper and look at what other districts are doing.” Jerry Houseman (Area 2) was the last to address the crowd. He admitted making the suggestion to Supt. Miller after he discovered that the Los Angeles Unified School District, which “represents ¼ of the students in the state,” was forced to cut summer school. “We need to join them,” he added. Houseman also stressed the importance or renegotiating union contracts and pointed out that salaries comprised 88% of the existing budget. Roy Grimes (Area 6), Patrick Kennedy (Area 7), Houseman and Terry voted for the reductions. Gustavo Arroyo (Area 4) abstained from voting and Bell was the only “no” vote. Program Reductions Defined (taken from the SCUSD proposal) Eliminate Summer School Programs Elementary and Middle Schools (for 2 years) Adult Education (ESL, GEB, ABE, Distance Learning, Older Adults) Convert Adult Education CTE Classes to Fee Based Shift Cost of PACE/HISP/IB to Site & Grant Funds Maintain Special Populations Programs to Close the Achievement Gap Culturally & Linguistically Reponsive Pedagogy Programs Hmong, Mien, Lao Program Refugee Student Assistance Program CSUS Math/ELA Academy Maintain High School Programs with Modifications Eliminate On-line Credit Recovery Concurrent Enrollment with Adult Ed. Conversation goofeegyrl Express your views, debate, and be heard with those in your area closest to the issue. June 12, 2009 | 09:17 AM Rep Terry patting himself and fellow members on the back, and congratulating the attendees to the http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9332/SCUSD_Board_of_Education_approves_drastic_reduction_of_summer_school[06/14/2009 12:34:58 PM] Sacramento Press / SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school meeting that things could be worse gives no hope to the children whose educations have been cut. Rep Housman, after admitting that he had not been present for the closed door session, or half of the open meeting for that matter, telling us that if it's OK for LA Unified, it's OK for our kids, left a very bad taste in my mouth, and many unmentionable comments heard behind me. Furthermore, and most importantly mentioned in this article, there are *no* plans in place to help the children that have been left behind in this decision. 2 0 REPLY thsas June 12, 2009 | 09:33 AM Is it not possible to make changes in the way summer school is run? We had a much worse school funding problem when I was in grade school, and it was solved by going to split days or reduced hours, a reduction in teachers, and volunteer support from the comminity. My mother for example, taught 5 hours a week over entire school year. (she had no degree, but was given the material to be taught in advance, so she was way ahead of the students) Back then, you could hug a child, too. 2 0 REPLY Samantha Corbin edited on June 12, 2009 | 10:03 AM Thanks for your comments. It is most disappointing to me that there are no plans whatsoever to ensure struggling students will have access to additional assistance. To push that responsibility back on schools, while concurrently cutting programs and funding, is an abdication of the district's responsibility. The absence of alternative proposals and research regarding student impact was also very striking to me. As the Special Meeting was called in the 11th hour, on the eve of the last day of school, there was little perceived time to discuss innovations to this summer's program. Hopefully, they will reconsider reinstating the program next summer, with modifications. 2 0 REPLY Seth Sandronsky June 12, 2009 | 09:54 AM Below is a recent report on parents and teachers resisting education spending cuts in LA: http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/10/la_schools 1 0 REPLY thsas edited on June 12, 2009 | 10:19 AM Are the teachers still working limited hours, or can they expand their work schedules to better reflect the average worker in America? (The average was 51 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, last report I saw). When my daughter was in school, it was never possible to meet with a teacher before 7:30 am or after 4 pm, because they were not to be bothered with it. (in business, you meet with the customer when they can, not when you can) Then the teachers dissapear for the summer. Seems like there is a lot of room for improvement there, yet I do not hear the conversation. 0 0 REPLY June 12, 2009 | 08:04 PM Thsas- Do you know any teachers? Because I have been in SCUSD for more than 13 years, and I don't happen to know any teacher who works only the 184 days that they are contracted to work, nor the 6 hours per day that they are paid for. And, I find it interesting that you never came across a teacher willing to meet with you before 7:30 or after 4 in 13 years of your child's education. And, in business, they meet when the customer wants? Are you kidding? Businesses have set hours just like every other institution. Perhaps that is why when people make phone calls to the majority of businesses, no one answers before 8 am, between 12 and 1 or 1:30, or after 5. Maybe you mean your business industry? I agree there is room for improvement, but please do not generalize to try to make a point. 0 0 ceh David Watts Barton June 12, 2009 | 10:27 AM I have not seen this story in ANY other local media. Thank you SO much Samantha for covering this. THIS is what we are talking about when we say that citizen journalism can do a BETTER job than traditional media. I think the responses above prove that point. http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9332/SCUSD_Board_of_Education_approves_drastic_reduction_of_summer_school[06/14/2009 12:34:58 PM] Sacramento Press / SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school 1 0 REPLY June 12, 2009 | 04:20 PM Agree! This is a major story ...could be just the kind of thing that really takes Sacramento Press to the next level of credibility. Samantha, you and all the others deserve a huge hug for this work. 0 0 LoriJablonski Samantha Corbin June 12, 2009 | 10:45 AM Thsas - I know that teacher's hours are up for discussion. I'll look in to that and keep you abreast of that conversation by way of Sac Press. David - Thank you. This news SHOULD have been covered by our local media. Instead, many parents I know are being informed of this last-minute decision by way of personal phone calls, group e-mails, Facebook and this article. 1 0 REPLY klenox June 12, 2009 | 10:54 AM You can sign up to be notified of meetings and be sent a link to the agendas. the board takes off in July so the district is busy trying to push things through before the break. Are you aware of the 7-11 committee meetings to re-purpose the schools that were closed? Check the website as they will be making decisions that will be approved at the June 18 meeting. (Some questions remain as to whether the decisions have already been made and the committee is just a legal formality.) 2 0 REPLY Leo BennettCauchon June 12, 2009 | 01:04 PM According to a recent survey by the California State PTA, nearly 41% of parent-teacher organizations in the state report summer-school cuts. That means a majority are finding another way. Per Ed Data at October 08 CBEDS California had 6,275,469 enrolled K-12 students. LAUSD had 693,680 of them for 11%, not 25%. SDUSD's Board spent 12 hours on June 1st to close a $63 billion budget gap without laying off teachers or reducing summer school. These cuts are a panic response by a management that does not know how to navigate through a crisis except by cutting the most obvious rather than the least necessary. The last revised budget in June projects that SCUSD will decrease funding for certificated and classified staff by 8 M this year while increasing supplies and services by 22 M. Now we need reduce staff funding further and wonder how this represents a budget focused on student need. 2 0 REPLY thsas edited on June 12, 2009 | 01:29 PM Most business pay attention to the economic trends and project up to 5 years cash flow. Most businesses make shifts in their variable exspenses well in advance of the economy shift. Two years ago most well run organizations did make adjustment to their operating cost. I have been in business for three economic turn downs, and the proper way to respond is by the book. The Company is of no benifit to the community if it no long exist. First you cut waste and fraud, by aggressively looking for it and rewarding your team for finding it. Next you re-negotiate all your contracts to lower amounts. (in a recession, everyone receeds) Then you cut top managments pay by 30-50%$, mid-management by 20-30%, and workers by 20%. You suspend all retirement contributions by the Company, restructure employee benifits to places more responsability on the employee to manage their financial and healthy well-being. Freeze all hiring, bonus programs, raises, and the signing of any additional contracts. Cut all non-essential travel and company parties and picnics. This is all done priorto ANY discussion of reducing customer services for firing employees is had. Has this happened with the school system? 0 0 REPLY LoriJablonski June 12, 2009 | 04:16 PM Samantha does indeed deserve big thanks for this. I was at the meeting, one of the nine who spoke against the cuts. The last minute nature of the meeting was justified by district staff as necessary to get the word out immediately. Unfortunately, they sent out no press statement--it was Jerry Houseman who said he would alert the Bee around noon, only after it was pointed out to him that the press was not carrying the story and folks were unaware of this development. As of right now, the district's own public website still touts summer school as available and includes enrollment info and registration forms. So much for getting the word out. http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9332/SCUSD_Board_of_Education_approves_drastic_reduction_of_summer_school[06/14/2009 12:34:58 PM] Sacramento Press / SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school I must also comment the info provided by Leo Bennett-Cauchon above. He is right on regarding the panic-nature of this action and the unwillingness of the majority of the board to challenge management's projections, budget numbers or overall approach. Also troublesome, is the vote taken immediately after this one to allow the district management to send pink slips to over 100 additional elementary teachers this summer. This makes it likely that K-3 class sizes will go up to 30:1. Let's not forget that this is a high-poverty district, with a large population of English Language Learners. As Samantha reported, the district has no plan in place to offset the impact of eliminating summer school for our neediest kids Even worse, the district is moving forward with upping the student/teacher ratio in these same kids' classrooms next year. Samantha, stay on this and write more. The people of Sacramento need this info. Thanks Sacramento Press. 1 0 REPLY larrytagg June 13, 2009 | 08:59 AM Thank you, Samantha Corbin and the Sacramento Press for scooping the Bee on this. The ongoing story will be whether the Sac City School Board continues to rely on the District office's recommendations to cut services to the neediest students and families, or whether it does the gutsy thing and take a hard look at the the District's contracts and consultants budget, like the San Diego School Board did (see Leo Bennett-Cauchon's comment on the SDUSD's action, above). 1 0 REPLY June 13, 2009 | 10:57 AM Larry - Thank you for your comments. It is my hope that the community will rally and STRONGLY encourage the Board to devote the time, energy and research required to develop the innovative solutions that will ensure all of Sacramento's children have access to the tools they need to succeed. SDUSD is one example of a district that did just that. With a 50% drop out rate, I don't feel it is appropriate for us to look at LAUSD as an example of "what to do," yet that appears to what sparked the proposal for these cuts. 1 0 Samantha Corbin Seth Sandronsky June 13, 2009 | 09:44 AM Is funding from the Obama stimulus package available to offset the SCUSD spending cuts? 0 0 REPLY June 13, 2009 | 10:39 AM As far as I could determine from the SCUSD staff presentation the other night, the finance team is already "counting" stimulus dollars in their budget projections. In other words, the proposed cuts are being presented to the board after taking into account the stimulus money that is expected to eventually seep down to the district. There will be no stimulus from the stimulus. Truly a tragic situation. 0 0 LoriJablonski June 13, 2009 | 10:54 AM Lori and I have the same understanding of the situation. After an additional 8 million dollars were cut from the budget in May, the stimulus funds had to be tapped to fill in the holes and keep existing programs running. 0 0 Samantha Corbin June 14, 2009 | 10:11 AM There is stimulus money available. However their use requires leadership and the management of creative options. SCUSD management is addressing the Governor's proposed May 14th cuts with all of the money from two parts of the stimulus. These cuts are still being negotiated and may not end up as deep as the Governor desires. Even if they are there may be a couple of million left of in these two pots since there are still some variables in the allocation. So taking a prudent risk in this area - knowing we still have millions in various reserve accounts in SCUSD - would be one way to fund summer school with stimulus money. The third pot of stimulus money is Title One and it has not been factored into summer school. The district will take over million dollars dollars off the top as an administrative fee which then becomes general fund money available for summer school. The remaining 10 million or so in Title One stimulus is available to be spent with some restrictions. Leo BennettCauchon http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9332/SCUSD_Board_of_Education_approves_drastic_reduction_of_summer_school[06/14/2009 12:34:58 PM] Sacramento Press / SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school Those restrictions include a focus on the most academically needy - which is the same focus as the reduced summer school services. Another restriction is the approval of School Site Councils - which is where leadership comes in. There is a pathway to safeguard students from these latest cuts but the Board needs to insist that staff map it out rather than staying on the easy road of past practice. 0 0 Seth Sandronsky June 14, 2009 | 11:03 AM Where is the SCTA's analysis of the Obama stimulus? 0 0 REPLY TYPE YOUR COMMENT IN THE BOX BELOW CANCEL SUBMIT Leave a Comment http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9332/SCUSD_Board_of_Education_approves_drastic_reduction_of_summer_school[06/14/2009 12:34:58 PM] Sacramento Press / SCUSD Board of Education approves drastic reduction of summer school About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | © 2009 Castle Press, LLC http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/9332/SCUSD_Board_of_Education_approves_drastic_reduction_of_summer_school[06/14/2009 12:34:58 PM]