School to Community Connection
December 15, 2004

Issue 78

Budget Resources Committee Finds No More Acceptable Budget Cuts

At the Dec. 1 School Board Study Session the Budget Resources Committee reported to the Board the results of several weeks of reviewing budget options. When asked to find additional reductions for the 2005-06 budget in the amount of $1 million, the committee found that there are no further places to make cuts of that magnitude. Here is the committee’s letter to the Board:

November 29, 2004
TO: Board of Trustees
FROM: Budget Resources Committee
RE: Budget Recommendations for 2005-06

The Budget Resources Committee mandate is to work with the Board of Trustees to address the fiscal concerns of this district. Our charge has been to advise and recommend budget cuts that, since 1999, have totaled $6.8 million. The Budget Resources Committee has worked diligently to minimize the impact on student services and programs. Consensus for those recommendations was not easily reached. The balance of fiscal stewardship with delivering the education that the children of this district deserve is fragile and easily undermined.

At the same time, the Committee has sought additional financial resources. Committee members have worked to revitalize and strengthen donations, particularly from the Healdsburg Education Foundation. Last year HEF and other donors contributed over $100,000 to district programs.

The Committee was greatly disturbed to learn that reductions and adjustments of $1 million must be implemented in order for the Healdsburg Unified School District to meet the fiscal solvency requirement for the 2005-06 school year. The students in this district will unfairly bear the burden of these cuts, a prospect that this committee finds educationally irresponsible and unacceptable. Further reductions are not economies or efficiencies but elimination of valuable educational services. The Board of Trustees must look at other options to keep this district solvent and under local control.

We offer the following suggestions:

1. Take immediate steps to investigate the implementation of a parcel tax to retain and restore educational programs.

2. Take proactive measures to retain students and to increase student enrollment such as marketing, partnering with other school districts, and promoting district programs.

3. Address the community’s questions about the need for a third elementary school and investigate the impact of new facilities on the budget.

4. Look at options on retiree benefits in cooperation with HATA and CSEA.

5. Explore options for the sale and/or use of properties such as the rentals, the bus yard, and other school properties.

6. Work with the associations on management of health care costs.

In addition, the Committee acknowledges the list of reductions that will be given to the Board. The Committee does not recommend, nor endorse this list. It is solely a compilation of totally unacceptable items brainstormed over the years, for which there is NO consensus. This is a list of what NOT to do. The Committee’s decision is not a negative reflection on the district process, but a true reflection on the current crisis in California Public Schools funding.

This letter is signed by the committee, consisting of: GORDON SHORT, LORRI EMMERICH, JOHN CURRY, DELIA CLEMENTS, STEVE SMIT, MATT O’CONNOR, ANNE SCHROEDER, NANCY CARLSON, PAT LOUVAU, JESSE SHAW, CARLA TROTTER, SCOTT RICHARDSON, CLAIRE CONNORS, JUDIE GIAMPAOLI, LINDA CAMERON, ANNE FRIEDEMANN, SUE MATHIS, TOM KIRKPATRICK , KAREN RICKETTS, DONNA THOMAS, KAY SCHULTZ, RUTH KARLSRUD

Among the reactions from the Board was a plan to put together study committees for each of the areas mentioned in the letter. Information about these committees will be available soon on the district website at www.husd.com  and from the district office at 431-3488. Community members will be invited to participate in each committee.

The website also contains
  • an explanatory PowerPoint presentation made by Business Director Ruth Karlsrud outlining the basic causes of the current crisis,
  • the current list of unacceptable budget reductions presented to the Board, and
  • a sample letter to our legislators advising them of our situation. The public is encouraged to send this same letter or one of their own to our elected officials.
     

The community is invited to the next School Board meeting on Dec. 15 when the Board will take action on the budget situation. The meeting will be held at City Hall at 7:00 pm.