Governor's May Budget Revision Promises Little More Than January Budget Proposal

On May 13, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown announced his May budget revision proposal. Although the state predicts it will take in $2.4 billion more than anticipated,

Gov. Brown shows the unfunded liability for teacher pensions.

that doesn't mean a new windfall for public schools. Schools will get the budget increase promised in January and little more, and instead of investing in more resources for the implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) or funding for universal preschool, the Governor is proposing that the bulk of these new revenues go toward a down payment on the $74.4 billion shortfall in the pension program for teachers and administrators, the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS).

"The good news in this budget proposal is that the Governor is holding firm on his commitments to the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and paying off deferrals," notes Denise Porterfield, Deputy Superintendent at the San Mateo County Office of Education.

To fund the CalSTRS shortfall, the Governor is proposing a 30-year payment plan, subject to negotiation with the Legislature, which would cost an additional $5 billion per year by the time it's fully phased in over seven years. The major portion of $3.7 billion annually, which dips into the increased funding expected under LCFF, would come from school districts and county offices.  

Currently, the pension program is only about two-thirds funded to meet projected pension payouts over the next 30 years, so the Governor sees an urgent need to fix the problem. "Kids need teachers and teachers get what they need by having a pension. The pension has to be paid for," Governor Brown said at his press conference on May 13, 2014.

"Although this budget doesn't include an expansion of services for students, we all know that CalSTRS has to be funded," says Porterfield. "Waiting just increases the costs and we do want retirement funds to be available when we will need them."

Under Prop 98, there will be an additional $242 million in revenue for schools above what was anticipated in January but most of that will go toward increased enrollment. The single largest Proposition 98 expenditure, which stands intact from the Governor's budget proposal in January, continues to be $4.5 billion for implementation of the LCFF.

The January state budget proposal included a $10.5 billion increase in K-12 and community college spending, split between one-time expenditures and more dollars for ongoing spending. The bulk of the money would go toward paying off what Brown calls the state's "wall of debt"--$6 billion in deferral payments to school districts--which would reduce borrowing costs and thus free up cash for districts. The remainder of the revenue would go toward school district operating budgets under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). In January, the Legislative Analyst's Office estimated this would mean an overall 10 percent increase in per student funding. Percentage increases would vary among school districts, with districts receiving extra funding based on enrollment of English learners, foster youth and low-income students.

The May revision does include some new and expanded education programs including $27 million to expand the capacity of the K-12 High Speed Network, which provides Internet service to county offices of education and school districts. Anticipated are grants for districts that need the most help preparing for the computer-based Common Core tests next spring. An additional $50 million is targeted toward career-training programs at community colleges.

On May 22, in response to the Governor's proposal,  the Assembly and Senate Subcommittees on Education revealed their Prop 98 packages. Some of the major augmentations included increased funding for CCSS implementation and LCFF, and increases in preschool and child care rates and slots. 

Next up the budget moves through the Conference Committee process until agreement is reached between the Governor and the Legislature. The Legislature must pass a budget by June 15, 2014.

Beyond Newtown 2 Highlights Community Collaboration

 

 

On May 5, 2014, nearly 300 community leaders gathered at the College of San Mateo theatre for the Beyond Newtown 2 Summit to learn of the progress that three San Mateo County task forces have made in addressing issues related to school violence, and to hear a gripping keynote address from Michele Gay,

Michele Gay, mother of a child who was killed in Newtown, captivated the audience at the Beyond Newtown 2 Summit. .

the mother of a student killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School and co-founder of Safe and Sound: A Sandy Hook Initiative whose mission is  to provide safe and secure schools for our children and educators, and to help others do the same in their communities.

 

County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier welcomed the crowd and acknowledged she was "personally astounded at the work taking place in San Mateo County and the broad community support." Congresswoman Jackie Speier added her remarks via video from Washington, D.C., citing alarming statistics-- three incidents per month of school violence and 44 school shootings since Newtown--and the urgency and importance of this community collaboration to address the issue. County Superintendent of Schools Anne Campbell added her gratitude to the Board of Supervisors stating, "None of this work would have been possible without their collaboration." 

 

Gay told the story of her journey from teacher to parent to advocate for school safety. With visuals and diagrams of Sandy Hook Elementary School, she walked the participants through the awful tragedy in Newtown on December 14,2012, while explaining safety procedures that, had they been in place, might have changed some of the outcomes of that day and reduced some of the chaos following the tragedy.

 

She spoke of the importance of simple measures--giving teachers the ability to easily lock their doors and making sure everyone is trained to be a first responder. "In situations like Newtown, we default to our level of training and knowledge," she said. "It was amazing how our staff rose beyond their training that day but their training was not enough. Teachers and everyone in the school building must be empowered because seconds matter."

 

Following Gay's presentation, leaders from each of the three task forces-- Emergency Response for Schools, Coordinated Mental Health for Schools, and Information Sharing--reported on their work since the first Beyond Newtown Summit a year ago. 

 

The Emergency Response for Schools task force described the development and release of the Big 5, a countywide school emergency response protocol that can be used in schools in the event of any emergency. The protocol has been endorsed by the County Sheriff and all of the county's 20 police chiefs. The Community Packet on the SMCOE website explains the protocol in detail. This protocol will be implemented in all school districts in the fall of 2014.

 

The Mental Health task force, with funds from Measure A, has promoted the teaching of Youth Mental Health First Aid through trainings taught by San Mateo County's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), offering the course at no cost to school staffs. The training, which has been attended by 280 individuals representing 67 schools and 17 school districts, helps to ensure that school personnel understand mental health signs and symptoms, and when to get help for students. BHRS has also offered five new Parent Project classes to help parents be more effective with their adolescents. In addition, the Mental Health task force has been involved in the adoption of a new position at the County Office of Education, the Director of Safe and Supportive Schools.

 

The Information Sharing task force described the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on protocols around information sharing among different agencies including SMCOE, law enforcement, probation, child and family services, and behavioral health and recovery services, and how this legal framework helps support the implementation of school-based mental health collaboratives across the county. "This MOU will help us understand how to share information with respect to individuals' privacy while allowing agencies to do their job," noted County Supervisor Don Horsley.

 

The morning program ended with a vision for the work going forward.  The next step will be the formation of the Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities, with the aim of creating a sustainable organization that can continue this important work. A follow-up event is slated for next fall to formally launch this coalition.

 

 

 

 

SMCSBA Kent Awards Celebration Spotlights Innovative Programs

Innovation was the theme at the annual San Mateo County School Boards Association (SMCSBA) Kent Awards dinner and celebration on May 19, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City. Sixteen award winners from school districts across the county were honored for their outstanding programs.

The awards were given to innovative programs either in the classroom or outside the classroom as well as district-wide programs.  Applicants had to demonstrate that their programs promote student success, employ a high degree of creativity, and demonstrate transferability. Initiated in 1980, the Kent Award Program was named after the past San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools, J. Russell Kent.

The 2014 Kent Award winners include programs that focus on innovation in the areas of 21st century learning, community engagement and creative partnerships, professional development, the arts, and academic support. A wide range of programs included titles such as "Two-way  Spanish Immersion," "Community Mobilization Team" and  "School Climate Change Initiative."

In addition to the Kent Award winners, Julie Flynn, program specialist in the Portola Valley School District, was presented with the Emily Garfield Preventive Counseling Award. This $1,000 program grant, now in its third year, is given through a grant from Youth Empowering Systems to honor local education pioneer Emily Garfield to focus on successful alcohol and drug prevention programs as well as positive youth development.

During the social hour prior to the dinner, attendees were treated to musical entertainment by the San Carlos School District Tierra Middle School Jazz Band and Swing Sisters Jazz Choir. They also perused exhibits complete with posters, videos, hands-on activities and staff explaining the award-winning programs.

Special guests at the event included San Mateo Board of Supervisors President Dave Pine (who is also a former school board member), County Supervisors Warren Slocum and Carole Groom, and representatives from the offices of state legislators Kevin Mullin, Rich Gordon and Jerry Hill, who were all on hand to congratulate the winners and offer certificates from their respective offices.

"These awards highlight amazing educational programs that are creative and transferable. Many have a partnership feature that demonstrates the power of collaboration," notes SMCSBA President Alisa MacAvoy, who is a school board member in the Redwood City School District.

See a complete list of the Kent Award winners here