MDUSD: Cuts add to strained relations

The latest from the Contra Costa Times tonight, read it here:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/teens/ci_11601323


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MDUSD's "McHenry visibly jolted"

Article in today's CCTimes about the meeting last night. The board last night voted to cut positions that clearly Superintendent McHenry did not agree with. McHenry was instructed to return to next meeting with a list of which 6 Directors and Asst Directors he would recommend to be cut and information about those positions. The board also voted 3-2 to eliminate his Asst to the Superintendent/Communications Specialist.

Theresa Harrington's article: Mt. Diablo school board cuts positions over superintendent's objections

"...McHenry was visibly jolted by the lack of support the votes displayed toward him.

"It's really difficult to stay motivated to do a job when it just doesn't seem like the board is going to support what you're going to do," he said. "I just think that what is happening here is wrong. I do think that it's somewhat vindictive and retaliatory and I'm going to see what action I can take to address it in whatever form is appropriate."

McHenry notes he will see what action he can take? I'm proud of our board who has delivered a message loud and clear that cuts need to be as far away from the students and school sites as possible. I think we all realize cuts at the schools are coming. But they should be the LAST resort. Its getting harder and harder to avoid cuts at the school sites, we all realize that, but the administrative segment of our district needs to run "lean and mean" first.

Tonight's Meeting 1/27

The board went into tonight's meeting with an eye on cutting over 1 million dollars. Instead the cuts were far less. VP's were not cut tonight. Instead an exchange ensued about what more can be cut from the Dent Center (District Office). Sure to be some hard choices in the meetings ahead. They did ask the Superintendent to provide additional information on a possible 6 cuts in Directors and Asst Directors at Dent. In addition, they did cut tonight the Asst to the Superintendent/Communications Specialist position. This budget promises to bring more devastating cuts in the future. I do still believe though that we should cut as far away from the kids as we can. Granted every single position on their list impacts our kids, but when it comes to the day to day interaction, safety, communication, discipline, IEPs and more - we have to see administrative at the district office go before our VPs, before library, sports, music or anything else rumored to be cut. See more about the rumors at http://www.mdusd.net/.

Board Meeting Tuesday 1/27 - more on the chopping block

As usual you can read the agenda at the district website and you can see the impossible odds our board is up against in its requirement to trim millions from our budget.

Please go over and read at www.mdusd.net for more information on what parents are talking about most: Vice Principals, Sports, Music and more. Not all are on the "block" yet, but if you look at the list of possible reductions, they're going to be running out of places to trim soon and will have to look at some vital programs.

For now, I am humbly requesting our board to consider NOT cutting the VP positions - yet. I understand they may need eventually to be cut, I know they have an impossible job. But I also do see some other positions that can go first - even if only in gesture for now.

So I hope you will attend tomorrow, listen/watch at home or write letters to our reps in Sacramento to get us to a budget that will allow our education system to survive. I know our board members are agonizing over these decisions. I don't envy them these hard times.

We must pass a parcel tax. We need to rally together during this time to do what is right for the future of our district.

Next Round Budget Cuts at MDUSD Board Meeting tonight

MDUSD School Board Meeting Tonight 7:30pm.

Do you know what is on the cut list tonight?

You can read tonight's agenda at : http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mdusd/board_of_education/agendas/currentagenda.pdf

(its only 282 pages!)

The agenda (on page 6) lists all cuts due to be approved tonight, but remember they can vote for ANYTHING on the cut list, even if not on the agenda, and rumors are swirling that the remaining 2 elementary VP's will be cut (which leaves just Meadow Homes with a VP) and most VPs for Middle Schools.

11a is on the agenda, but they may vote for 11b and/or c instead.

11b will cut Highlands Elementary and Mt. Diablo Elementary VPs.
11c will cut Glenbrook, Oak Grove, Pine Hollow and Valley View VPs.

Mt. Diablo Elementary is an elementary school of over 850 children. Does it seem to make good safety sense to cut an administrator at a school of this size? What about your school if its on the list, how will you do with one less administrator on campus each day?

Tuesday's Important MDUSD Board Meeting 12/16

From Gary McHenry's Monday Memo:

For more than a month the Board of Education has been discussing and hearing comments about and suggestions for budget reductions. At a special meeting on Tuesday, December 16, the Board may consider not only some initial recommendations for budget cuts but also a proposal for a major revenue enhancement: a parcel tax initiative to be placed on the June 2009 ballot. The meeting will be held in the Little Theater at Northgate High beginning at 7 p.m. The most up-to-date list of proposed budget reductions can be viewed on the District web site, www.mdusd.k12.ca.us, at two locations accessible from the home page 1) by clicking on "Board of Education" and then "Current Agenda" (see Item 5.4) or 2) by clicking on "MDUSD Budget Reductions in the box titled "Budget Reduction Info" and then on the pdf file "MDUSD Budget Reduction List."

If you are concerned with the budget cuts and how they will impact your students and your school(s) - it will be important to attend. If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming initiative to place a parcel tax on June 2009's ballot - its important to attend.

NOTE the location is different. This meeting will be held at Northgate High School's Little Theater and begins at 7pm. Don't forget to check www.mdusd.net for a live broadcast of this special board meeting if you are not able to attend.

Also note you can find the most recent list of possible cuts on the district site: www.mdusd.12.ca.us. For the list updated 12/16/08. You can get the agenda for the meeting at: http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mdusd/board_of_education/agendas/0809/12-16-08.pdf

Please note they are voting to approve some of the reductions at this meeting. Please note item 5.4 on the agenda at the link above. They include such items as:

21. Reduce contributions to summer school.
24. Reduce budget for Student Information System by $420,00 one time
27. Eliminate one vacant occupational therapy assistant
29a. Shift the cost of the Administrative Secretary's position . . . (read more at budget)
33. Shift funding for one FTE senior account clerk . . . (read more at budget)
58. Reduce one FTE staffing assigned to Mt. Diablo High School
70. Implement a "just in time" delivery program for ordering core items (read more at budget)

Updated MDUSD Meeting List

On the right sidebar are some important dates to know. Board Meetings, Advisory Council Meetings, Budget Committee Meetings and Public Hearings - all coming in the next month.

The December 9th Board Meeting is the meeting that starts our new board and when Gary Eberhart and Sherry Whitmarsh begin their new terms as MDUSD Board Members.

You may have also read in the Times that the NAACP plans to attend this December 9th meeting to make their position known on some of the proposed cuts, as some of the people occupying the top level positions on the lists are African American.

I also noticed that Sue Berg's position is on the list (she's the Senior Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Communications Specialist for the District). There are many positions on these lists. There are many programs too. How did race even become an issue? The Times says:

CONCORD — The addition of three black Mt. Diablo school district administrators to a list of cuts trustees are considering as they try to reduce their 2009-10 budget by $6.6 million has sparked racial controversy in the community.

Several speakers at the school board's Tuesday night meeting questioned the inclusion of Associate Superintendent Alan Young, Assistant Superintendent Mildred Browne and Director of Classified Personnel Dorothy Eppstein on the list of cuts, noting that the administrators are all African American. Joseph Adebayo, president-elect of the East Bay chapter of the NAACP, said his organization plans to announce a position about the proposed cuts at the board's Dec. 9 meeting.

Does anyone know the opinion of the three mentioned in the Times article clip above?

Devastating NEW Budget Cuts proposed to the MDUSD

Things aren't getting any better on the budget front for MDUSD and for school districts around the state. Check out the latest memo from Superintendent McHenry. Please keep your ears open for community meetings near you - they are coming. We all need to pull together and work for the good of this district, and of greatest importance, our children, their education and teachers.

I'm thankful we have a new board majority as we move into this unsure time, and next round of budget cuts. We will likely have to band together to demand our Sacramento representatives stop the cuts to our schools. Doesn't seem likely we can withstand these kinds of cuts without devastating wide-felt damage

The district is near crisis with these cuts. Take note, this is now MORE than the original 6.6 million projected - it is now closer to 17 million dollars! These next cuts could devastate every part of our district. Read on:






I can not find this memo posted on the district website yet, if you want a copy of the email, please email: mdusdparents@gmail.com and I'll forward you a copy of the above.

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Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council Meeting tonight (Weds)

First, a big congratulations are in order for Gary Eberhart and Sherry Whitmarsh for their huge wins for MDUSD School board.

Secondly, in the "business as usual" category, there is a Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting tonight at the Dent Center 7-9pm. Remember, even if you're not the "assigned rep" for your school site, you are welcome at these meetings.

Watch the election results tonight!

Thanks to www.strangelaw.net and www.Claycord.com we will be able to view the election results almost as quick as they come in!

GO TO: http://votestrange.com/electionresults.htm

See you there!