Board Briefs  - San Rafael City Schools
A Summary of Key Actions by the Board Of Education
Highlights from the June 22, 2009
Regular Meeting of the Board
         
Approval of Request for Allowance of Attendance For Bahia Vista Elementary School - Emergency Conditions Approved request for attendance credit during days school was closed because of possible H1N1 virus.

Approval of Resolutions 1411 and 1412 - Approved resolutions necessary to provide the Board of Education the flexibility to reduce compensation for unrepresented employees (i.e. principals, assistant principals, directors, program managers, confidential employees, supervisors) during the 2009-2010 school year.  These resolutions were recommended as a purely precautionary measure, providing the Board additional flexibility if needed.

Each resolution also included language that referred to the requirement to negotiate any salary adjustment with collective bargaining groups.  These would include San Rafael Teachers Association (SRTA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), and San Rafael Federation of Teachers (SRFT). 

Several members of the audience submitted Speaker Cards to address the Board on these resolutions.  General concern was expressed that Resolutions 1411 and 1412, were not provided to all employees of San Rafael City Schools before placed on the Board Agenda.  Other public comment reflected concern that represented employees (teachers, classified support staff, counselors) could receive a decrease in compensation during 2009-2010.  Clarification was provided in response to questions and concerns.
  • Recommended resolutions have direct impact on unrepresented staff only
  • Resolutions were brought forward exercising the highest degree of precaution, based upon the unanticipated budget reductions passed down from the State
  • The superintendent was informed of such resolutions on Wednesday evening, June 17th.  The Board President was presented the resolutions for review that same evening.
  • The Resolutions were added to the Board Agenda on Friday, June 19th for the June 22nd Board Meeting.
  • Compensation for represented groups, SRTA, CSEA & SRFT, cannot be unilaterally imposed
  • Changes in compensation for represented groups are subject to bargaining
  • The inclusion of bargaining groups by name within the text of the resolutions, was in an effort to be transparent and again, as precautionary notice, that should such action become necessary because of unknown fiscal challenges. The intent was not to alarm staff, nor disrespect staff.
  • It was acknowledged and recognized that the there can never be too much communication.  On-going efforts to enhance and improve communications to staff and members of the community remain among the highest priorities of the Board and the District.
  • There are no compensation reduction scenarios included in either the preliminary 2009-10 budgets or the accompanying multi-year projection scenarios.
Approval of Budget Assumptions and Preliminary 2009-2010 Budget for San Rafael Elementary School District-  Budget development for 2009-10, and the development of multi-year projections presents unprecedented challenges for school districts across California.  In a typical year, many of the budget assumptions from which the preliminary budget is built, may be slightly adjusted or changed, once finalized at the State, Federal & local levels.  In the current fiscal environment, we must anticipate that these assumptions will change.

The Budget Advisory Committee began meeting in October 2008 and met at least monthly.  This committee reviewed information about various sources of District revenues, types of expenditures, contractual or mandated obligations and expenditures outside of the control of the District (e.g. utilities, insurance and payroll driven costs).  Additionally, the committee reviewed specific program information including Special Education, pupil transportation and facilities use.  The committee also heard regular updates from Board Meetings, the Enrollment/Facilities Committee, and  the Facilities Use Committee.  Specific information was provided regarding the contribution from the General Fund for Home:School and Special Education transportation.  At each meeting, the Budget Advisory Committee received new data and information reflective of the shifts in revenues, and budget cuts announced by the State of California.  
 
District staff conducted a series of Community Budget Forums from December 2008 through April 2009.  Staff and members of the school community had the opportunity to provide input on the budget process through participation at scheduled forums, feedback through on-line budget surveys, and an electronic mailbox for ideas and suggestions.  All collected information was reviewed, shared with the Board, and made available to the entire school community.  Based on available budget information at that time, many ideas, recommendations, suggestions was utilized throughout the budget development process.  

The fiscal landscape has changed dramatically from the first community budget forums held in December 2008 and those conducted in February and March 2009.  After the announcement of the Governor's May Revise, the District received on-going notice of late year budget cuts and revenue reductions, up to and including this past week (June 15, 2009).

The budget assumptions presented, outline the significant budget reductions that have been taken to balance the Elementary Budget.  For 2009-10, elementary district revenues will receive an applied deficit of 18%, meaning the district will receive 82 cents for every $1 we are projected to receive.  As a result, Revenue limit funding for 2009-10 will be $4 million less than projected.  To read more about budget assumptions for 2009-10.... 

Once the State budget is adopted, this budget information will be integrated as part of the First Budget Revision brought forward by staff  later this summer.  The outlined budget assumptions do not include any compensation reductions for any employee group for 2009-10, or the succeeding two years, based on current projections.
 
As the Preliminary Budget indicates, San Rafael Elementary School District will be able to meet its financial obligations for the current year, and the two successive years based on current budget information.  It was noted that the Elementary District will be deficit spending in each of the next three years. (Expenditures exceed the revenue generated within the same fiscal year)

Approval of Budget Assumptions and Preliminary 2009-2010 Budget for San Rafael High School District -

The State Budget for 2009-10 was approved in February 2009. Since that time, there have been continual shifts and changes to projected State revenues.  The February State budget addressed the $42.5 billion deficit.  Continued falling State revenues and the failure of the May 19th ballot initiatives has resulted in an additional estimated State deficit of over $24 billion projected through June 2010.


Although the San Rafael High School District is a "basic aid" District and therefore not typically impacted significantly by State budget reductions,  proposals within the State Legislature have resulted in a "fair-share" proposal for basic-aid districts for both 2008-09 and 2009-10.  This fair-share amount for a basic-aid high school district is equivalent to an estimated $731 per ADA (one-time).  For the San Rafael High School District, this is equivalent to a $1.4 million reduction in State funding. 


Once the State budget is adopted, this budget information will be integrated as part of the First Budget Revision brought forward by staff  later this summer.  The outlined budget assumptions do not include any compensation reductions for any employee group for 2009-10, or the succeeding two years, based on current projections.

As the Preliminary Budget indicated, San Rafael High School District will be able to meet its financial obligations for the current year.

 

Board Policy Revisions Approved Adoption of Adoption of Revisions to Board Policies and Administrative Regulations: BP/AR/E 5116.1 Intradistrict Open Enrollment, BP 5131 Conduct, BP 5145.12 Search and Seizure, BP/AR 5123 Promotion, Acceleration/Retention, AR 5127 Graduation Ceremonies and Activities, BP/AR 6115 Ceremonies and Observances      
 
Continuation High School Principal Approved - Jane Songer was appointed as the Principal of Madrone High School effective July 1, 2009.

San Rafael High School Assistant Principal Approved - Stephen Brady was appointed as Assistant Principal, San Rafael High School effective July 1, 2009.


Next Meeting:    Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 6:00 p.m. - Board Room, 310 Nova Albion, San Rafael
The 2009-10 Budgets for both the Elementary School District and the High School District will be presented for approval and adoption, meeting the legally required deadline of June 30th.