Transcript Overview & Summary On-line Budget Survey Community Budget Forums Suggestion Box San Rafael Elementary School District April 2009

Overview & Summary
On-line Budget Survey
Community Budget Forums
Suggestion Box
San Rafael Elementary School District
April 2009
Respondents
Total number of surveys initiated = 321
 97.8%
English
 2.2%
Spanish
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50.7%
2.0%
6.6%
19.5%
6.6%
5.6%
7.9%
1%
Parent of K-8 student(s)
Parent of 9-12 student(s) = 4.2% of families
Parent of both elementary and high school students
SRCS Certificated Employee 19% of certificated
SRCS Classified Employee
Community Member – no children in school
Other
SRCS Student
Respondents with Children – Schools of Attendance
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Bahia Vista
Coleman
Glenwood
Laurel Dell
San Pedro
Sun Valley
Venetia Valley
Davidson
0 responses
29 responses
39 responses
2 responses
0 responses
62 responses
10 responses
40 responses
Reported Levels of Awareness
• 91.7% of respondents reported being aware that $1.2 million was
cut from the Elementary School District for the current 2008-2009
school year.
• 90.1% of respondents reported being aware that as a result of the
State’s fiscal crisis, San Rafael Elementary School District would
need to cut $2 million over the next 18 months.
• 68.9% of respondents reported being aware that public funding for
education is at least $650 per pupil below the national average. If
funded at the national average, San Rafael Elementary School
District would receive an additional $3.3 million per year.
Levels of Importance as Rated by Respondents
(Eleven general items/services were identified to rank in order of importance)
Ranked as Most Important
• 88% of respondents ranked Core Academic Courses (language arts,
math, science & social studies) as one of their top 3 priorities
• 65.9% of respondents ranked Class Size as one of their 3 top
priorities
• 48.3% of respondents ranked Enrichment Courses (art, music,
drama) as one of their 3 top priorities.
Levels of Importance as Rated by Respondents
(Eleven general items/services were identified to rank in order of importance)
Ranked as Least Important
• 62.5% of respondents ranked Home to School Transportation as
one of their 3 least important priorities
• 52.6% of respondents ranked Latest Version of Textbooks as one of
their 3 least important priorities
• 51.9% of respondents ranked After School Offerings as one of their
3 least important priorities.
Favor/Strongly Favor
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87.7%
76.7%
71.1%
64.5%
59.1%
54.2%
53.8%
49.3%
46.4%
43.6%
Increasing Facility Use Fees
Reducing site and district office hours open
Postponing purchasing of textbooks and materials
Furthering the development of HeadsUP
Reducing district office staff
Reducing summer school offerings
Increasing property taxes
Reducing or eliminating Home to School transportation
Reducing professional development & training
Reducing the length of the school year by 5 days
Oppose/Strongly Oppose
 70.7%
 70.4%
 67.4%
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67.2%
65.2%
64.4%
59.8%
59.5%
59.1%
57.8%
55.7%
Increasing class size at the middle school to 32:1
Shortening the school day
Cutting all programs and services by the percentage
needed to balance the budget
Increasing class size in 4th and 5th grades to 30:1
Reducing campus supervision personnel
Reducing site administrative personnel and services
Reducing all salaries by 1-3%
Reducing library services and staff
Increasing class size in grades K-3 to 25:1
Eliminating 5th grade outdoor education
Reducing counseling services
Based on what you already know, what additional
questions do you have to help you better understand
how the State fiscal crisis is impacting San Rafael
Schools?
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When will we find out about the decisions made?
Information has been great!
Ignorance is bliss. I wish I didn’t understand.
I’m pretty well informed and sad about the situation.
I’d like to know what reserves we have as a district.
Given the reality of the economic downturn and the State’s collapsing support
for public education, what would you share with the Board if they were to
consider a parcel tax increase?
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In favor
Doubt an increase has a chance in this economic climate. Polling needs to be done
Make it a reasonable amount slated to improve class size
The fiscal crisis has hit home, we cannot afford higher property taxes.
Good idea
How can we ask for more money if we are not going to use the previously raised
funds for their intended use
Review district office salaries/benefits. Freeze administrative salaries before you ask
homeowners to pay
Put it on the ballot
I will support it. Our schools are important
Are we going to ask the community to bail us out again?
I would not support a parcel tax. I’d like the students who live outside our boundaries
to attend their own schools.
Taxes are better spend on education rather than jails
Considering the schools and community, what concerns you most
during this financial crisis?
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I’m most concerned about Davidson. We have turned a corner and we could lose
some critical resources that we just added. Spare Davidson
The well being and education of our children
Are the students’ needs coming first?
Can we remain fiscally solvent if there is no staff at the district office?
Destroying programs that have been working, losing students to private schools, let
people know what will be cut and then let staff work out the problems, community
cannot micromanage every decision
Remember this is public education. We should all share cuts equally. Divide all of
the PTA and Foundation funds equally for all students
Morale for everyone, from students to top administration
Loss of good teachers
Making cuts and not reducing work load
Concerned that our public employees don’t realize how lucky they are to have a job,
any job!
Considering the schools and community, what concerns you most during this
financial crisis?
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I wonder if we are focusing on what is best for the kids, or what is best for the teachers and other
adults
Losing counselors, administrators and campus supervision at Davidson
Loss of course offerings
Worried about safety of children and teacher overload
The effect on student learning
Can we provide a strong education that reaches our diverse students
Our children’s’ well being
Some schools have prep periods every day and at my school we don’t even have one a year.
Support for teachers and students, especially children of poverty
Our students may lose if class size increases
AM/PM Kindergarten would be disastrous – this will ruin these children’s educational career and
future success
Personnel being laid off
I’m concerned that not enough people understand the big picture of what has already been cut
and what will be required to cut $2million
What do you think is most important for the Board to consider as they make
necessary and difficult decisions about the budget?
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Largest savings is going 24:1. These would not be exceptionally large classes.
It is important for the Board to remember that they represent all students and families, not just
those who are the loudest.
Cut out unnecessary spending, textbooks and the Dean at Davidson
Please think about students in poverty
Well being of teachers and students
Impact of dismissing well-qualified teachers
Keep cuts as far away from kids as possible.
Individual needs of students are less likely to be met if classes are bigger
Keep busses for San Pedro only
Education means people – don’t cut teachers – cut at the top
Keep as many people employed as possible
Keep only those programs proven to be successful
More work for special ed personnel
Make decisions equitably. Cut busing and bus transportation.
Students from all backgrounds
Take care of teachers
What do you think is most important for the Board to consider as they make necessary and
difficult decisions about the budget?
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Help everyone be respectful in this ugly process. Some can say very hurtful and disrespectful things
that damages the working environment
Make principals take on administrative functions from the district office
Would it really make a huge difference to add 2 or 3 students to K-3 classes?
Make balanced cuts – our classified staff truly supports students and staff
Is there a way to use this as an opportunity to integrate the schools better? How come some schools
seem to be able to block children of color from coming to their site?
Keep it real. Be honest and up front.
Be brave and make the hard decisions, even if you are unpopular
Cap K and 1st at 20:1, other grade loads can go higher
After cutting, what comes back when there is money again?
Teachers are very important, however, so are all of the other people who work in the school district.
It’s a team effort. When you cut off certain body parts, things don’t work like they used to.
Consider temporary reductions, like for a year or two.
People
Look at each site individually and see what is necessary at each site. Don’t make broad decisions
grouping all schools together
Eliminate waste at sites – pare down staff at district office
Teacher input on proposed cuts
No AM/PM Kindergarten
Consider different class size loads at different grade levels, and at schools with low-income students
Keep program and class size reduction – Eliminate everything else; custodial, supplies, textbooks,
administration, etc.
How would you support further development
and expansion of the Heads Up Educational
Foundation?
• Don’t know much about it
• We have a lot of community support
• Why does Glenwood have their own foundation? Seems like there
should be ONE district foundation
• Get past the infighting and competition that takes place between
schools and communities
• I support a central foundation like Dixie, Mill Valley or Kentfield
• Assist with fundraisers
• More community involvement
• Donate as I could
Other questions, comments or feedback?
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Lets hope for sanity in Sacramento
Can we change the birthday date of incoming K’s to September 1st
Collapse school districts
I appreciate all of the transparency during this time. I think the
district administration is doing an excellent job (and working
tirelessly) to get the community informed and involved. I have not
heard of such efforts in neighboring school districts
Thanks for making the forum available
I wonder if the District will really take our feedback into consideration
when making final decisions
Encourage highly paid teachers to take leaves of absence
Increase class size and eliminate some district positions
How can we raise money?
SUGGESTION BOX E-MAIL ADDRESS
Summary of comments submitted via email to [email protected]
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Compress the school calendar into less school days
Encourage union concessions
Shorten the school year
Reduce the amount of student testing
Do not implement AM/PM Kindergarten
Combine summer school offerings with other school districts
Work for a legislative change from a 2/3 majority vote for budget
Reinstate the Vehicle License Fee
Become more energy efficient – in the winter it is too cold, in the summer it is too hot
Cut: Teachers on Special Assignment, Maintenance, Supplies, computers, technology replacement
and postage
Ask parents for a $500 annual donation per student
Put stationary bikes at all campuses to generate energy
Seek sponsorship from professional athletes for SRCS’
Establish a Donation Website
Pursue additional grant funding
Initiate paid parking at all school sites
Minimize home to school transportation
Cut Peacock Gap AM bus to Davidson
Use more college interns
Increase volunteerism
Post a wish list
Eliminate all free and reduced meals at all sites
Community Budget Forum Feedback
San Rafael Elementary, K-8
Budget Forum Feedback
• Over the three sessions for the elementary district in
February, an estimated 450-500 people participated.
• Each session began with a budget presentation and
explanation provided by the superintendent
• After the presentation, small groups formed to allow
dialogue and discussion about necessary budget
reductions
Budget Forum Feedback
• Copies of the list of “Items for
Consideration” and a Budget Forum
Worksheet were distributed.
• Individuals were first asked to identify their
own top three cost item priorities to maintain
and what 5-6 recommendations for reduction
or elimination they would make that we
approach $2,000,000.
Budget Forum Feedback
• This information was then discussed in the
groups and areas of agreement were
reported out to the whole group.
• Additionally, any group that had discussed
other ideas for reductions or revenue
generation were invited to share them as
well.
Budget Forum Feedback
• 233 worksheets were collected in all
• 117 completed in English (50.21%)
• 116 completed in Spanish (49.79%)
Top Priorities to Maintain
Assistant Princpals
Library Clerks at
Current Level
Library Clerks at Current
Level
Transportation
All Yard Duty
No Shared Principals
Middle School Counseling
Middle School
Counseling
Transportation
No Shared Principals
All Yard Duty
Assistant Princpals
Class Size Reduction Increase Feedback
CSR 24:1
CSR 25:1
CSR 23:1
CSR 25:1
CSR 20:1
CSR 22:1
CSR 20:1
CSR 22:1
CSR 23:1
CSR 24:1
Recommendations
for
Reduction
or
Elimination
Class Size Increase Total
105
45%
Delay ELA Adoption
104
45%
Night Custodians
89
38%
Transportation
82
35%
Postage
78
33%
Mail Delivery by 50%
77
33%
Copier Contracts by 50%
51
22%
Library Clerks
49
21%
School Office Support-1 hour
49
21%
Maint, Grounds, Custodial supplies
44
19%
Change DMS Bell Schedule
43
18%
Conference and Travel
37
16%
Categorical Flexibility
34
15%