At the board meeting tonight, it was discussed that over 600 pink slips will be going out this week. The reason for so many is that there is still much uncertainty about the budget and they must notice any and all employees that may possibly be on the cut list down the line. Hopefully, there will not be a need to cut even half of those positions, but we have to work hard to keep any more cuts away from our district.
Stand Up for Schools! Please support your teachers tomorrow, Weds March 11th by attending the rally in Civic Park from 4 to 6 pm. Bring your friends. We need crowds and a huge showing to send a strong message to Sacramento that enough is enough.
Also, show support for our teachers and district employees and wear pink on Friday, March 13th. See the CTA site: http://www.pinkfriday09.org/.
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Parent Editorial: Sports and the Parcel Tax - "...no plan, no guarantees and if the Parcel Tax does or doesn’t pass, we may not get sports back"
Below is a parent letter, an open letter to the board and to our community. If you have something you'd like to share, please feel free to comment, or email mdusdparents@gmail.com to get your letter posted here.
Update 6pm, the Contra Costa Times just posted the following article: Mt. Diablo School District Parents confused about the future of sports . Check it out. There is also an email circulating today to urge sports families to attend the board meeting tonight. Sports for next year is already cut. Sports are not on the agenda tonight. I hope they remain organized and use this energy toward the passage of Measure D and the prioritization of what programs to restore when it passes. Behind the scenes, district personnel are working to determine the "pay to play" and parent funded athletic options. We should hear more soon.
----------------------
Dear Mt. Diablo School District Board,
I have 3 students in the Mt. Diablo School District, I have been very supportive of our schools and have contributed significantly as PTA President, and auditor for several years, as well as doing the yearbook, helping in classrooms, with graduations, etc. I stay well informed and keep in close touch with many of our teachers. That being said, I was quite surprised when last Tuesday I heard of the boards decision to cut all Athletics from our high schools. I learned of this from my son who was told by a friend on his Concord High Football team. Once I began to research I found that there were very few people aware that this cut was scheduled to be done at the March 3 board meeting, as I realize the sports program has been on the cuts list since November, I was not under the impression that it had come to that point yet. No one I spoke to had any idea this cut had occurred, one day after the board meeting.
Since the day I found out about the cut I have been relentlessly trying to figure out what was going on and figure out why no one was talking about this, why did no one know about it? I Sent emails, talked to people, the only information I could get was... we have to pass the parcel tax. Great, I signed up to support that, without hesitation. But then with further research I realized, that the Parcel Tax does not speak to sports anywhere in the verbiage, but it does speak to art and music. So tonight still trying to piece all the facts together, I attended the Concord High Boosters meeting to hear what Sherry Whitmarsh could tell us, (thank you for coming Sherry), what I took away from that meeting is, there really is no plan, no guarantees and if the Parcel Tax does or doesn’t pass, we may not get sports back. So what are our options, we ask? Well, there is no option for pay to play and there doesn’t seem to be any real handle on whether or not the Boosters could fund the sports programs, there may be legal issues involved. Which brings to question, why if Water Polo is a self funded sport and can continue, why couldn’t football be a self funded sport and continue? And how much money is really needed to continue the sports programs, the $721,400, seems to be somewhat of a questionable amount, does it include the money raised by sports such as football gate fees and transportation? In order for the parents and Booster Clubs to know what we are up against if the Parcel Tax doesn’t pass (or even if it does), we need to know what our options are.
I think this was the first time that the people in the Boosters and parents in general really understood that you are taking sports, I think everyone thought we could raise money or do pay to play, it even said that in the Contra Costa Times, but as I understand it from Sherry tonight, we are not eligible for pay to play because of some of the schools below poverty levels. This is absolutely devastating. And if the Parcel Tax doesn’t pass things are even more dire. My feeling is that with 1/3 of high school students in the Mt. Diablo School District participating in sports, that is a good support base for passing the Parcel Tax. I know for a fact that if it meant keeping High School Athletics, you would have hundreds of people willing to go door to door to get the support for this Parcel Tax, without having it specifically written into the Parcel Tax, you have tied all the Athletics Boosters and Parents hands, we can not go out and rally for this Parcel Tax to save Sports because you won’t commit to that.
This cut of all high school athletics will have astronomical consequences to our students, those that have dreams of college scholarships, those that have questionable family lives, sports are the best intervention program we have. Without sports those kids will be wondering around our neighborhoods getting into trouble, gang issues will rise, and high school truancy and drop out rates will increase. Beyond the affects this will have on our children, this move will lower our property values even more, with people leaving the area to go to districts with sports programs, and people not wanting to move into our district without a sports program, our school scores will drop, with the students having no accountability, the grades and test scores will plummet.
All this being said, I am not blaming the board for the cut, I understand why it was made and that it was a difficult decision, however, what I am saying and asking for, is for some accountability. What can we do to keep the sports programs, realistically, we need a plan, we can make it work if there is only a plan of action. Can we add sports to the Parcel Tax verbiage, then we can get every parent of a high school student in sports to go out and rally behind Measure D? And if the Parcel tax doesn’t pass, how much money needs to be raised? Can the schools keep the gate fees and transportation fees toward the funds for sports? Is there any way to do pay to play? Can each sport fund itself like Water Polo at Concord High? We need answers and we need answers now so that we can get something in place to have sports programs still in our schools in August when our students return from summer break.
As I said before, this cut will cause far reaching devastation, it will affect far more students, directly and indirectly than any other cut. Please consider this carefully and help us to keep our sports programs.
Sherry Whitmarsh mentioned tonight, she has not seen any support for sports at the board meetings, except a few people from College Park. Well, I can guarantee you, that will be changing, the biggest reason that no one has shouted out about this cut yet, is because no one really knew it had happened and what it really meant. We all assumed it would just turn into a pay to play situation, at worst, now we know that is not the worst. The worst, absolutely, is no sports programs, which are vital to our children’s education and chances at getting into college, being successful and for our community to continue to thrive with decent schools and programs.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and we will be seeing you at the board meetings.
Sincerely,
Meghan Mahler
mmahler@sbcglobal.net
(students at Concord High and El Dorado Middle)
.
.
Update 6pm, the Contra Costa Times just posted the following article: Mt. Diablo School District Parents confused about the future of sports . Check it out. There is also an email circulating today to urge sports families to attend the board meeting tonight. Sports for next year is already cut. Sports are not on the agenda tonight. I hope they remain organized and use this energy toward the passage of Measure D and the prioritization of what programs to restore when it passes. Behind the scenes, district personnel are working to determine the "pay to play" and parent funded athletic options. We should hear more soon.
----------------------
Dear Mt. Diablo School District Board,
I have 3 students in the Mt. Diablo School District, I have been very supportive of our schools and have contributed significantly as PTA President, and auditor for several years, as well as doing the yearbook, helping in classrooms, with graduations, etc. I stay well informed and keep in close touch with many of our teachers. That being said, I was quite surprised when last Tuesday I heard of the boards decision to cut all Athletics from our high schools. I learned of this from my son who was told by a friend on his Concord High Football team. Once I began to research I found that there were very few people aware that this cut was scheduled to be done at the March 3 board meeting, as I realize the sports program has been on the cuts list since November, I was not under the impression that it had come to that point yet. No one I spoke to had any idea this cut had occurred, one day after the board meeting.
Since the day I found out about the cut I have been relentlessly trying to figure out what was going on and figure out why no one was talking about this, why did no one know about it? I Sent emails, talked to people, the only information I could get was... we have to pass the parcel tax. Great, I signed up to support that, without hesitation. But then with further research I realized, that the Parcel Tax does not speak to sports anywhere in the verbiage, but it does speak to art and music. So tonight still trying to piece all the facts together, I attended the Concord High Boosters meeting to hear what Sherry Whitmarsh could tell us, (thank you for coming Sherry), what I took away from that meeting is, there really is no plan, no guarantees and if the Parcel Tax does or doesn’t pass, we may not get sports back. So what are our options, we ask? Well, there is no option for pay to play and there doesn’t seem to be any real handle on whether or not the Boosters could fund the sports programs, there may be legal issues involved. Which brings to question, why if Water Polo is a self funded sport and can continue, why couldn’t football be a self funded sport and continue? And how much money is really needed to continue the sports programs, the $721,400, seems to be somewhat of a questionable amount, does it include the money raised by sports such as football gate fees and transportation? In order for the parents and Booster Clubs to know what we are up against if the Parcel Tax doesn’t pass (or even if it does), we need to know what our options are.
I think this was the first time that the people in the Boosters and parents in general really understood that you are taking sports, I think everyone thought we could raise money or do pay to play, it even said that in the Contra Costa Times, but as I understand it from Sherry tonight, we are not eligible for pay to play because of some of the schools below poverty levels. This is absolutely devastating. And if the Parcel Tax doesn’t pass things are even more dire. My feeling is that with 1/3 of high school students in the Mt. Diablo School District participating in sports, that is a good support base for passing the Parcel Tax. I know for a fact that if it meant keeping High School Athletics, you would have hundreds of people willing to go door to door to get the support for this Parcel Tax, without having it specifically written into the Parcel Tax, you have tied all the Athletics Boosters and Parents hands, we can not go out and rally for this Parcel Tax to save Sports because you won’t commit to that.
This cut of all high school athletics will have astronomical consequences to our students, those that have dreams of college scholarships, those that have questionable family lives, sports are the best intervention program we have. Without sports those kids will be wondering around our neighborhoods getting into trouble, gang issues will rise, and high school truancy and drop out rates will increase. Beyond the affects this will have on our children, this move will lower our property values even more, with people leaving the area to go to districts with sports programs, and people not wanting to move into our district without a sports program, our school scores will drop, with the students having no accountability, the grades and test scores will plummet.
All this being said, I am not blaming the board for the cut, I understand why it was made and that it was a difficult decision, however, what I am saying and asking for, is for some accountability. What can we do to keep the sports programs, realistically, we need a plan, we can make it work if there is only a plan of action. Can we add sports to the Parcel Tax verbiage, then we can get every parent of a high school student in sports to go out and rally behind Measure D? And if the Parcel tax doesn’t pass, how much money needs to be raised? Can the schools keep the gate fees and transportation fees toward the funds for sports? Is there any way to do pay to play? Can each sport fund itself like Water Polo at Concord High? We need answers and we need answers now so that we can get something in place to have sports programs still in our schools in August when our students return from summer break.
As I said before, this cut will cause far reaching devastation, it will affect far more students, directly and indirectly than any other cut. Please consider this carefully and help us to keep our sports programs.
Sherry Whitmarsh mentioned tonight, she has not seen any support for sports at the board meetings, except a few people from College Park. Well, I can guarantee you, that will be changing, the biggest reason that no one has shouted out about this cut yet, is because no one really knew it had happened and what it really meant. We all assumed it would just turn into a pay to play situation, at worst, now we know that is not the worst. The worst, absolutely, is no sports programs, which are vital to our children’s education and chances at getting into college, being successful and for our community to continue to thrive with decent schools and programs.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and we will be seeing you at the board meetings.
Sincerely,
Meghan Mahler
mmahler@sbcglobal.net
(students at Concord High and El Dorado Middle)
.
.
300+ pink slips, class size reduction - all on the list
If you've read tonight's agenda you'll see that all tolled , there are probably over 300 pink slips slotted to go out this week within the Mt. Diablo School District. If you look at the position lists of possible cuts, you'll notice everything from science and math teachers to librarians and intervention personnel. Also, on the list is the teaching staff needed to keep class size reduction in place for grades K-3. This presumably means they're leaving their options open if this budget situation gets worse, that may be next to go. Its hard to imagine how much worse it can get, and if it does get worse, what is left to cut ?
On the http://www.protectourlocalschools.org/ site it says something I think everyone needs to know:
It may get worse. The failure of any one of five ballot items (placed on the ballot by the state government to balance the budget) on the May 19th statewide election will further reduce the MDUSD budget. In addition, any subsequent change in the budget resulting from the Governor's May Budget Revision could further reduce the MDUSD budget.
Now is the time to get involved with Measure D. What is important to you? Do you know how it may be prioritized when the parcel tax passes? If anything on that cut list is/was important to you, you can not afford to think others will fight the fight. We all need to do it. It is going to take all of us now.
On the http://www.protectourlocalschools.org/ site it says something I think everyone needs to know:
It may get worse. The failure of any one of five ballot items (placed on the ballot by the state government to balance the budget) on the May 19th statewide election will further reduce the MDUSD budget. In addition, any subsequent change in the budget resulting from the Governor's May Budget Revision could further reduce the MDUSD budget.
Now is the time to get involved with Measure D. What is important to you? Do you know how it may be prioritized when the parcel tax passes? If anything on that cut list is/was important to you, you can not afford to think others will fight the fight. We all need to do it. It is going to take all of us now.
Special Board Meeting, Tuesday March 10th
See the right hand side bar for the link to watch the board meeting live. Click HERE to read the full agenda for the night. You'll see they'll be talking about the budget as well as the pink slips that will be mailed out this week. On the agenda they do have a list of the positions on the "cut" list so I guess we'll see how it turns out at the meeting.
On another note, here's a note to the teachers from MDEA President, Mike Noce:
In support of our teachers in Mt. Diablo and across the state we are asking that you wear your pink arm bands to school all week and to attend the large rally Wednesday, March 11 at Civic Park in Walnut Creek. The event starts at 4:00 and there will be teachers attending from across the East Bay. This event is in our “home field” and Mt. Diablo should have 1000 members there.
The fate of our schools depends on our community hearing about the effects of our recently adopted budget and its devastating cuts to schools. They need to be informed so they will make the right decisions when voting in the Special Election. The voters hold our fate in their hands. If we can’t reach them, we’re in big trouble. Attending needs to be a priority for everyone Wear Pink, and I see you there. Don’t come alone bring colleagues and family.
.
On another note, here's a note to the teachers from MDEA President, Mike Noce:
In support of our teachers in Mt. Diablo and across the state we are asking that you wear your pink arm bands to school all week and to attend the large rally Wednesday, March 11 at Civic Park in Walnut Creek. The event starts at 4:00 and there will be teachers attending from across the East Bay. This event is in our “home field” and Mt. Diablo should have 1000 members there.
The fate of our schools depends on our community hearing about the effects of our recently adopted budget and its devastating cuts to schools. They need to be informed so they will make the right decisions when voting in the Special Election. The voters hold our fate in their hands. If we can’t reach them, we’re in big trouble. Attending needs to be a priority for everyone Wear Pink, and I see you there. Don’t come alone bring colleagues and family.
.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Devastating cuts coming March 3rd
This is the meeting where the all important cuts to library, elementary music, athletics, custodial, VPs and more will be discussed and potentially reduced that night.
Its not going to be pretty.
What can you do? Support our local parcel tax. It may be the only way to restore some of the upcoming cuts.
Visit: http://www.protectourlocalschools.org/. Get involved. Support with financial help. Support with your time. Anything you can do, will help. Most especially vote YES on MAY 19.
Right now the March 3rd board agenda does not note which specific cuts may be considered, but the board can consider them all. Just look at the reduction list available with the agenda, everything is up for grabs. Check at http://www.mdusd.net/ for more specifics of the programs on the discussion list for Tuesday.
.
Its not going to be pretty.
What can you do? Support our local parcel tax. It may be the only way to restore some of the upcoming cuts.
Visit: http://www.protectourlocalschools.org/. Get involved. Support with financial help. Support with your time. Anything you can do, will help. Most especially vote YES on MAY 19.
Right now the March 3rd board agenda does not note which specific cuts may be considered, but the board can consider them all. Just look at the reduction list available with the agenda, everything is up for grabs. Check at http://www.mdusd.net/ for more specifics of the programs on the discussion list for Tuesday.
.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Budget cuts for tonight in plain english
So , tonight the board is voting on the final cuts to the "LAST" round of budget cuts. There is going to be a NEXT round of cuts thanks to Sacramento and our new California budget. You can always read the agenda's online at the http://www.mdusd.org/ site. But here is what is being considered for elimination tonight:
Board agendas
Item
17 - Reduce 1 of 2 PM custodians at 3 elementary schools (eliminate 3 positions)
88- Eliminate Director of Maintenance and Operations
89- Shift funding of Asst Director of Student Services/Special Ed to categorical programs
90- Reduce Administrative Services legal budget by $150,000
91- Reduce copy machine budget by $30,000
92- Reduce telephone budget by $30,000
93- Reduce elementary education budget by $10,000
94- Reduce secondary education budget by $20,000
95- Reduce fiscal services contracted services budget by $55,540
Remember they can vote on any other item on the cut list even if it is not included in their agenda
Knowing that many will be worried about losing services at their schools (i.e. custodians) the MDUSD site run by Paul Strange and Gary Eberhart has posted a new topic today - take a look - and get involved today with the parcel tax. You'll see that tonight is just ending the last round of cuts, and the next 8 million is going to devastate us as a district. It will include music, sports, VP's - who knows what's next - library? class size reduction? I don't know , but they are working on their agenda and proposed cut list for the next board meeting on March 3rd, so stay tuned for that bad news. But read up at http://www.mdusd.net/: HOW BAD IS IT?
Board agendas
Item
17 - Reduce 1 of 2 PM custodians at 3 elementary schools (eliminate 3 positions)
88- Eliminate Director of Maintenance and Operations
89- Shift funding of Asst Director of Student Services/Special Ed to categorical programs
90- Reduce Administrative Services legal budget by $150,000
91- Reduce copy machine budget by $30,000
92- Reduce telephone budget by $30,000
93- Reduce elementary education budget by $10,000
94- Reduce secondary education budget by $20,000
95- Reduce fiscal services contracted services budget by $55,540
Remember they can vote on any other item on the cut list even if it is not included in their agenda
Knowing that many will be worried about losing services at their schools (i.e. custodians) the MDUSD site run by Paul Strange and Gary Eberhart has posted a new topic today - take a look - and get involved today with the parcel tax. You'll see that tonight is just ending the last round of cuts, and the next 8 million is going to devastate us as a district. It will include music, sports, VP's - who knows what's next - library? class size reduction? I don't know , but they are working on their agenda and proposed cut list for the next board meeting on March 3rd, so stay tuned for that bad news. But read up at http://www.mdusd.net/: HOW BAD IS IT?
MDUSD unveils new look for website
Has anyone else noticed the new website at MDUSD? It looks good so far. I also do like how they have the latest board and district news and information right on the front page instead of buried behind several clicks of the mouse.
They even simplified the URL for us. You can now find the MDUSD at http://www.mdusd.org/.
.
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They even simplified the URL for us. You can now find the MDUSD at http://www.mdusd.org/.
.
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Thursday, February 12, 2009
New Leadership at MDUSD
From the desk of Sue Berg, comes this message today:
For Your Information
An Announcement from the MDUSD Board of Education February 11, 2009
To Members of the Mt.Diablo Unified School District community, At the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Education meeting Tuesday night February 10, President Gary Eberhart announced that pursuant to mutual agreement, the Board has accepted the resignation of Gary McHenry, District Superintendent since 1999. Dick Nicoll, a 30-year veteran of MDUSD and an Assistant Superintendent since 1996, has been named Interim Superintendent. In his announcement, President Eberhart acknowledged Mr. McHenry's lengthy tenure in the District and the many accomplishments which took place during that tenure. He said, "This is a time of change within the District. The District and the community face many new challenges, and the Board believes that new leadership is necessary in order to achieve that change. We now look to the future and building on the successes of the past."
Mr. Nicoll's financial and educational experience will help to assure that the District will be well led while it begins the search for a new Superintendent. Mr. Eberhart said the Governing Board intends to proceed deliberately and carefully in that search, which will involve community input.
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Richard Nicoll
Interim Superintendent
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
(925) 682-8000, x4009
e-mail to: nicollr@mdusd.k12.ca.us or bergs@mdusd.k12.ca.us
website:www.mdusd.k12.ca.us
For Your Information
An Announcement from the MDUSD Board of Education February 11, 2009
To Members of the Mt.Diablo Unified School District community, At the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Education meeting Tuesday night February 10, President Gary Eberhart announced that pursuant to mutual agreement, the Board has accepted the resignation of Gary McHenry, District Superintendent since 1999. Dick Nicoll, a 30-year veteran of MDUSD and an Assistant Superintendent since 1996, has been named Interim Superintendent. In his announcement, President Eberhart acknowledged Mr. McHenry's lengthy tenure in the District and the many accomplishments which took place during that tenure. He said, "This is a time of change within the District. The District and the community face many new challenges, and the Board believes that new leadership is necessary in order to achieve that change. We now look to the future and building on the successes of the past."
Mr. Nicoll's financial and educational experience will help to assure that the District will be well led while it begins the search for a new Superintendent. Mr. Eberhart said the Governing Board intends to proceed deliberately and carefully in that search, which will involve community input.
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Richard Nicoll
Interim Superintendent
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
(925) 682-8000, x4009
e-mail to: nicollr@mdusd.k12.ca.us or bergs@mdusd.k12.ca.us
website:www.mdusd.k12.ca.us
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Superintendent causes stir with his remarks
"Were they just words expressing frustration, or a threat of legal action?"
This is the question asked in today's article in the Times by Theresa Harrington.
Read more by clicking the link or article clip above.
Here's my opinion, in this climate of budget cuts and catastrophe for all schools looming, our Superintendent needs to check his words in public more carefully. We need to come together to solve this together. What he said may well have been in frustration, but it does nothing to bring this community together. Though he did not make a statement to the paper for this article, his assistant Sue Berg does note he's moving forward with the board recommendation. So for lack of a better cliche - can't we all just get along? We need to work together. We're all going to feel the cuts. We need a parcel tax. We need a united front.
If you look on the right side bar over there -------------------> you'll see a feed from "Protect Our Students. Protect Our Schools. Protect Prop 98." They are following education cuts from around the state. We haven't even felt the worst of it yet, look at just a few examples over there, including:
Novato school officials are considering laying off 60 classroom teachers, completely eliminating athletic programs and closing a middle school to save $5.8 million - the amount they fear they’ll lose this year due to state budget cuts.
Wouldn't people rather see a leaner admin before they see teachers and ALL sports cut, not to mention school closures? Look at the MDUSD Budget Reduction list - those things are ALL on there; sports, programs (teachers) and school closures. Let's work together...
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MDUSD: Budget Emergency Information
Click to the MDUSD website to view information about the district's budget emergency including links to the budget cut information, state budget information and updates about the parcel tax possibilities.
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