Parent Advocate League Update
by Julie Collier

On. Nov. 18, CUSD held another Budget Workshop meeting regarding potential mid-year cuts and potential cuts for next year.

Supt. Woodrow Carter explained that the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) states the deficit might be $27.2 billion over the next 20 months, and more budget issues will continue through 2013. He outlined a Budget Guidance based on what parents and board members have suggested: change status quo; cut administration and stay away from classrooms; no overtime; zero-based budget; outside-the-box thinking (but that depends on Ed Codes and board policies, by-laws, CDE and collective bargaining); protect “core value” (maintain accelerated student achievement; keep CSR, do not increase class size).  Carter recommended: no layoffs and keep schools and district intact. Carter also stated it would be about a 12-month process to close a school.

Presentation by Ron Lebs – Goals by Dec. 15:

• Adopt 1st Interim Report
• Identify $12.5M in budget cuts
• Backup plan for AV property sale if it does not go through (buyers are having difficulty due to banking industry/bad economy)
• Certify that district can maintain solvency this fiscal year and the next two fiscal years

Total Expenditures and Percentages of Budget:
Certificated Salaries: $195,693,264 (48%)
Classified Salaries: $55,104,497 (13%)
Admin Salaries: $19,806,204 (5%)
Benefits: $75,206,109 (18%)
Books & Supplies: $18,424,956 (5%)
Services & Other: $28,716,596 (7%)
Capitol Outlay: $60,000 (0%)
Other Outgo: $8,967,939 (2%)
Interfund Support: $743,035 (0%)
Debt Service: $3,756,207 (1%)

Lebs made a chart of budget cuts that do NOT include: eliminating CSR; cutting teacher salaries by 1%; no salary increase for 09/10; adding students to 4-12; furlough days; step freeze; and block music. Below is how the district worked out the new numbers for the budget cuts.

Budget Cut Summary Inclusions:
Site - 25% Supply Reductions $.335M
C Building Rent $.650M
No Salary Increase 09/10 $5.60M
10/11 Step Increase on Above $0.090M
On-Line Agenda (paperless agenda) $.020M
Bus Rental $.010M (private school pays to rent CUSD buses)
No salary increase for 10/11 $4.325M
Draw Down Reserves $.500M                                                                    
Total                   $11.530M
Target Amount    $12.500M
Balance               $0.970M (still needs to be cut)

Mid-year cuts were briefly discussed: This Sunday the CA State Legislature will decide if more cuts are necessary. If the Legislature decides more cuts are needed (2/3 vote), then there will be mid-year cuts to education. Our district will have to make choices on what to cut.

The last Budget Workshop is Dec. 2 at 6 pm. This is the last opportunity parents will have to voice their opinions/suggestions to the superintendent and his administration before the Dec. 8 board meeting. The Dec. 8 meeting is when the board will vote to approve the budget cuts based on the cuts the district has provided them. The board can only vote to approve or deny what is presented to them. It is important that the CUSD community uses the last Budget Workshop opportunity to tell the district administration the expectations they have.

The district has done a fabulous job of offering three different workshops to listen to what the community has to say. Based on the budget changes, it is clear they have listened. There are still some vague areas as to what cuts will be made at the district level. Almost $1M still needs to be cut from the budget. If you have suggestions, please plan to attend the last Budget Workshop on Dec. 2. You can find more information at the district Website, www.capousd.org.

Here are some of my suggestions as well as suggestions from other PALs members:

• District vehicles should be sold. Administrators can get 58.5 cents per mile according to Federal tax laws. Money can be saved from paying for full tanks of gas, maintenance and insurance. Also, selling the cars will generate revenue for the district.
• Any leftover buses should be sold if not in the plans to be used anytime soon since many of them sit unused in a lot.
• Handwriting Without Tears should be cut.
• No new textbook adoptions until we get past the current crisis (this concept is what Saddleback is doing).
• Postpone the new math textbook adoptions, which include many teacher in-service days (training days for the teachers to learn how to use the new textbooks) that the district has to pay for.
• Postpone the new grading system (requires more in-service days).
• Cut staff development
• Go totally paperless including parent flyers, agendas, district newspaper, etc.
• District staff should all go into Building A in the district building. The district can rent out Building B for more revenue. (Another PALs member and I had a meeting at the district office, and we noticed many empty cubicles that can be used for this purpose).
• Offer/promote empty conference rooms for rent at the district office for business, church and community needs.
• Offer/promote school sites for rent for business, church and community needs.

Be sure to attend the workshop Dec. 2 at 6 pm to offer your great ideas as well. Supt. Carter and his staff are listening. If you can't attend the meeting, you can email the board and Supt. Carter. Their email addresses can be found at www.parentsadvocateleague.org

On a side note, thank you to those who forward my emails in parts or entirety and include my name. You are welcome and encouraged to do so. My goal is to keep people as informed as possible. I volunteer my time and do not get paid for it in any way. I do not condone taking my emails in parts or entirety, removing my name and adding your own name as if you wrote the email yourself. While it is flattering to have my work copied, it is also plagiarism, which most people would consider highly unethical. If you feel my emails have merit and information to pass along, great! Please do so with my name. Thank you!