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Dear San Rafael City Schools Community:
The purpose of this letter is to share with you information about the administrative realignment and reorganization that will become effective on July 1, 2009.
The plummeting state revenues for the current 2008-2009 fiscal year have resulted in mid and late year budget cuts to both the Elementary and High School districts. For the current fiscal year, 2008-2009, we cut $1.2 million before school even started last August. In this same school year, the state has cut an additional $1.7 million from the Elementary District revenues, resulting in additional budget reductions.
With the failure of the May ballot initiatives, the Governor has already outlined additional cuts for the current year (2008-2009) that ends on June 30, 2009. He has also announced additional needed cuts for 2009-10, effective July 1, 2009.
In all of our past budget discussions for San Rafael City Schools, we believed the High School District would be minimally impacted and that there was not a need to initiate significant budget reductions. Over the past two weeks, this assumption has changed dramatically. Basic Aid districts, like San Rafael High School District, have already incurred cuts to our categorical programs consistent with the categorical cuts imposed on our revenue limit school districts like San Rafael Elementary.
Now we expect that the High School District revenues will be decreased through a "fair share" proposal that would reduce high school funding to comparable levels that revenue limit school districts have been cut. Budget cuts that impact students, families and our staff are always difficult. These last minute announcements from the State require the District to take rapid and unanticipated decisions.
Throughout this process our goal has been to keep cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. To this end, we have eliminated seventeen administrative/management positions (10 positions in 2007-2008, 7 positions in 2008-2009). Just four positions have been reinstated, all with additional responsibilities. The remaining 13 positions no longer exist, yet the duties, responsibilities, and work once done by these positions remains.
To maximize efficiency without adding cost, we are initiating an administrative reorganization by redistributing site and district administrator roles and responsibilities. Effective July 1, 2009, all site administrators will all have additional administrative responsibilities based upon their area(s) of expertise, their current position, their school assignment, and their workload capacity. A summary of some of these initial changes are outlined below. As school opens, a defined listing of added roles and responsibilities will be made available.
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Acknowledging Service to San Rafael City Schools
Thank You and Good Luck!
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DEPARTURES
We come to the end of the 2008-2009 school year, acknowledging and thanking these district staff members for their service to San Rafael City Schools. Regretfully, each of these positions has been eliminated for the coming school year.
· Susan Palmer, Director of Special Education - Susan has served the students and district of SRCS for the past three years. She has made many contributions on behalf of children. Congratulations to Susan who has been named the new Director of Special Education for the Millbrae School District. This position has been eliminated
· Pam Gunn, Program Manager, Special Education - Pam completes her professional educational career in SRCS where she has worked as a Program Manager in Special Education. Pam provided tremendous support to students, staff and families. Happy Retirement! This position has been eliminated
· Randy Hust, Director, Information Technology - For the past thirteen years, Randy has provided technical support to every district school, and likely every district employee. His work can has touched the entire district. He is missed by his many friends and colleagues.
This position has been eliminated
· Jackie Durham, Director, Fiscal Services - Jackie provided direct fiscal assistance and support to many of our schools. She provided key information to site principals that helped them do their job.
This position has been eliminated.
· Balandra Fregoso, Coordinator, School-Linked Services - Balandra has initiated, established and maintained valuable community partnerships in support of children and our schools. The network of services she has coordinated have helped many in our community. This position has been eliminated
· Jason Richardson, Dean of Students, Davidson - Jason seized this new position at Davidson and has made a very positive difference at Davidson during the current school year. Jason was recently selected as the new Assistant Principal at White Hill Middle School in Fairfax. This position has been eliminated
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Site Level Changes
Site Administrators to Assume Added Duties
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Administrative Changes at the Site Level
· Bob Marcucci, currently principal at Laurel Dell will be reassigned as the principal at Glenwood Elementary School.
· Liz Block principal at Glenwood will be reassigned as the full-time principal at Laurel Dell Elementary School. Mrs. Block will also be taking on district-wide responsibility for components of our special education program.
· Jane Songer, formerly a teacher and most recently an Assistant Principal at San Rafael High School, Jane has been appointed as the principal of Madrone High School. In this position she will also oversee all expulsion procedures, hearings, etc.
· Karen Levin Allen, joined the San Rafael City Schools in 2007 as the Principal at Madrone High School and the administrator responsible for expulsions, and other alternative education programs. Karen will be taking responsibility for guiding and leading our Adult Education program. This new position, Coordinator of Adult Education, is a part-time position fully funded by Adult Education.
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Board of Education Schedules
Review and Approval Dates for 2009-2010 Budgets
The San Rafael City Schools Board of Education is scheduled to review the Preliminary Budgets for both the Elementary and the High School Districts on Monday, June 22, 2009.
The adoption of the 2009-2010 budgets is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 2009.
Complete Agenda packets and information can be downloaded from the District website. Agendas are posted by 6:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the Board Meeting.
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No Light at the End of the Tunnel?
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We continue to find ourselves receiving very late budget information from the State of California. With each new announcement of reduced revenues, comes the need to make late year adjustments to balance the budget of both the Elementary and High School Districts.
Unfortunately, time is of the essence, as we must present our preliminary budgets for public review on June 22nd.
We are committed to keeping you informed as information changes.
Mike
Michael Watenpaugh, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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