GUSD Superintendent Winter ‘10 Letter

   February 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians:

The Governor released his proposals for the 2010-11 State Budget in January. California continues to grapple with deficits that have been identified at approximately $20 billion. This is a huge deficit that the Governor is attempting to mitigate. In his “State of the State” presentation, the Governor stated that he protected funding to education. In reality, significant ongoing cuts to public education in the amount of approximately $225 per average daily attendance (ADA) have been proposed. The cost of living adjustment (COLA) has not been provided to the school district for several years.

This is a staggering hit to our budget in GUSD.

Challenges faced by GUSD prior to the Governor’s proposals:

Prior to the Governor’s proposals in January, GUSD needed to make $2.5 million in cuts for
2010-11. The District presented the following information to the Board of Education and the public in the fall of 2009:

• The state cuts to the budget have required GUSD to cut approximately $7 million over the last two years. We have worked diligently to preserve the integrity of the District while making extremely difficult decisions.
• The state made additional cuts to school funding in July. The one-time federal stimulus dollars were used to bring back the teachers who received Reduction in Force (RIF) notices and the federal stimulus money is now gone.
• The District is considering furlough days as a method for reducing employee layoffs and to maintain as many programs and services possible. Furlough days are a negotiable item between the District and employee associations. Administrators will take the furlough days in the same manner as all employees. The state is currently permitting school districts in the state to reduce the school year by 5 days.
• The District Budget Committee began meeting in January. The recommendations of the District Budget Committee will be presented to the Board of Education in February.

The ultimate effect:

In the fall, GUSD needed to make approximately $2.5 million in cuts for 2010-11.

Due to the Governor’s proposals in January, GUSD must make additional reductions to the projected budget by more than $1.5 million. The net effect is GUSD must now make significantly more cuts totaling approximately $4 million for 2010-11 that will stay in effect through 2011-12. Much of the revenue generated through the District of Choice Program has been used to maintain lower class sizes, to offset the loss of revenue associated with the reduction to the COLA and to mitigate the decline in enrollment.

What does this mean to our students?

• The District is currently proposing seven furlough days with employee groups and administrators.
• The current school year may be reduced by up to four days.
• The 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years may be reduced up to five days.
• There will possibly be teachers who receive Reduction in Force letters (RIF).
• Class size may increase.
• Some programs will be reduced or suspended until funding is restored.
• There will be reductions and suspended hiring of administrators, certificated employees and classified employees.

The Governor’s budget proposal is the starting point for negotiations at the state level and we anticipate that changes to his January proposal will be made prior to the final budget being adopted. However, as always, public education must make adjustments at the local level based upon the Governor’s budget proposals.

These cuts are the greatest challenges GUSD has ever faced. We have worked together to maintain the integrity of the District during these devastating times for education. GUSD is not alone; school districts throughout the state are attempting to grapple with the same issues. School districts in the state are reducing the school year and taking salary reductions to protect employees and programs.

These are very difficult times but let us work to keep the focus on the students while we, as adults, grapple with possible solutions that will keep our school district intact over the next few years until funding is restored. Parents are encouraged to give generously to the Foundation for Glendora Unified Schools (www.fgus.net). The Foundation has helped the District maintain lower class sizes and ensure valuable programs are provided to our students.

Sincerely,