Dear Parents and Community of MDUSD,
It was with a saddened heart that I listened to the catastrophic news presented at the board meeting. The Governor's proposed budget will cut MDUSD another $35 million by 2011/2012. When you look at the the budget horror in 2014/2015 our cuts are $115.9 million. The total 2009- 2010 budget is $266.8 million. Here's the link to the complete PowerPoint presentation:
MDUSD: Governor's 2010-11 Budget Announcement, January 12, 2010 (Powerpoint file)
If you have any thoughts that would not apply to negotiations I would love to hear from you by Monday, January 18. Example of items that apply to negotiations are salary reductions, furlough days, benefit reductions. The reason I'm asking you to not send those is that they are currently on the list of budget reductions. Here's the link:
MDUSD Budget Reduction List (Excel file)
For the sake of our children, please contact your elected state officials. Please have everyone you know contact the state officials. Public education is at a severe risk. Also I did want to inform you that at last night's board meeting, board member Dick Allen announced he would not be running for election in November.
Thank you.
Sherry
Sherry Whitmarsh
mobile (925)899-4731
her last name is Whitmarsh Mobile?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad 1:56 that you picked out clearly the most important point of the article.
ReplyDeleteHow about focusing on the english speaking children. How much funding is being spent on people here illegally and who use english as their second language?
ReplyDeleteHow about closing the Adult education school? Seriously that should have been closed during the last round of cutting.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree. There are certain mandates for every district regarding Adult Ed, but MDUSD offers way more than the basics.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't want to hear how it generates income. If it costs money, it has to be cut because our kids should be the focus.
How about CUTTING some of those EXTREMELY HIGH ADMINISTRATIVE SALARIES AND EXPENSE ACCOUNTS.
ReplyDeleteTEACHERS AND STAFF BUST THEIR BEHINDS TO BE SURE OUR KIDS HAVE A GOOD EDUCATION, UNLIKE THE UPPER DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION. NO WONDER THERE IS A LACK OF SUPPORT OR RESPECT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AT MAHOGANY ROW.
WE NEED A CHANGE NOW!!!
If we have to close a High School, how about Olympic High?
ReplyDeleteI understand that there is an on-line high school that these people can take.
Instead of a QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS SALARY for our new Superintendent, how about a reasonable salary?
ReplyDeleteThere's a savings for our kids and our school district.
How many teachers would THAT pay for?
I'm a little confused. The proposed CA budget that I read about in the newspaper stated no cuts to education funding and additional funding to higher education. I haven't seen any more info, so why is the district needing to make so many more cuts? Wasn't able to attend the meeting, so any clarification would be appreciated.
ReplyDeletesighhhhhhh.Why oh why is this happening. Our teachers are being pushed to the limit. I work at a local school. I love my job so much. I give my heart and soul to your children every single day. Having 31 kids in a class is trying to say the least. The english language learners do require much needed assistance on a daily basis. My hands are up. I just dont know what to say. God help us. One thing I know for sure is our board members are doing the best they can. I trust them. They have a hard job.
ReplyDeleteanon 4:33
ReplyDeleteThe Governor promised to protect education, he did not promise to exempt it from cuts. He plan is to reduce the cost of living allowance (COLA) by making it negative. He believes districts should cut administration. He did not define administration. In MDUSD we already cut administration. Our last cuts were 35% on administrative position reductions.
anon 3:30
We did eliminate one superintendent's cabinet position in the last round. If you have specific examples, please send them to me.
Before you implement a furlough program which is a direct cut that negatively affects our students cut the health benefits of all other employees (including the new superintendant) in the district..if it's "good" enough for the teachers than it's good enough for the administrators, secretaries and janitors. This is insane.....students and teachers have given more than enough....our kids deserve better and so do our teachers
ReplyDeleteIn reviewing the list of proposed cuts, I noticed item N8 is to eliminate one P.E. prep team. Why only one? I fully realize this cut would need to be negotiated, but why not eliminate ALL P.E. prep teams? Elementary class sizes are all similar in size, the P.E. prep is no longer necessary. (In fact, many elementary teachers would be happy to see this cut take place.)
ReplyDeleteSherri,
ReplyDeleteIn light of this, do you still defend giving the attorney a $40K raise recently? If so, why? If not, why dont we start by clawing back some of these outrageous bonuses and perks all you administrators love to hand to each other all the time.
If you answer that you still defend it, are you serious? Even with the massive PR hit it burdens any future parcel tax initiative with?
Thank you very much MDUSD and the State of California. You have just helped my husband and I to finally get off the fence about leaving the Bay Area and to make the decision to get the hell out of Dodge. This makes me sick. You are messing with our children, their well being and their futures. Honest to God, I just don't have words to express my disgust.
ReplyDeleteWOW - it is not Sherri's fault here people...she stepped up and ran to be on the School Board to HELP. Give her respect. Would you want her job? Yes, the budget cuts are awful, yes, I have considered leaving town too but...really, how about spending time doing something with your kids rather than spending time blaming the Board. The entire state is in turmoil - by running and leaving and bashing others, what are you teaching your own kids? Maybe some positive support and suggestions may be a better route here.
ReplyDeleteAdd up all of the extracurriculars. If possible cut PE, music, clubs, etc. I'd like to see high school athletics remain, but if we've got to prioritize, there are things that can go even if some want them. Most kids get plenty of activity outside of school through sports such as swimming and soccer.
ReplyDeleteI campaigned, supported, and voted for Measure D, but right now we've got to confront these problems and make some tough decisions.
6:35 they can't just cut employee benefits. The employees are protected by their unions and cutting benefits would have to be negotiated and why would anyone vote to give up their medical benefits in this economy?
ReplyDeleteKeep the teachers. Don't cut their salaries. Keep the bare minimum at Dent (I think it's pretty much like that already). Get rid of everything else: music, art, library, sports, any classroom assistant that is not required by an IEP. Close more schools than just 2 (I'm assuming it's 2)...so many schools are old, beat up, and small, and are half full.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be all about streamlining. Keep the required stuff, and pay the teachers and staff that remain well....get rid of everything else.
This is sick.
Do any of the non teaching employees contribute to their health care premiums, or is covered at 100% ? What do they pay as co-pays, or deductibles?
ReplyDeleteJust curious?
I keep hearing that MDUSD receives less funding (is that per student?) than other districts in the area. If this is true, why and what is being done to fix this?
ReplyDeleteInstead of cutting teacher salaries and getting rid of important extra curricular activties, why can't we rezone the district? Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek all have their own districts. Shouldn't the schools in their cities belong to their districts? It was said at a meeting last year that MDUSD is the lowest paid per student because we have too many elementary schools. So, aside from consolidating some of the smaller elementary schools, isn't changing district lines even a remote possiblility? Does it make sense from a finincal stand point?
ReplyDeleteAm I just being ridiculous here?? Isn't this a "no brainer?" We cut fromthe top down, and I can't speak for others but If I have to pay more taxes to ensure my children have quality education.. So be it!!!
ReplyDeleteJust remember to vote for Meg Whitman next year. Get the Govenator out of there and this will be avoided.
ReplyDeleteIf we let our schools go into program improvement status, we can send our kids to neighboring district schools, right? Let College Park fail and the kids can go to Acalanes? At the last meeting, we approved a motion to accept students from Martinez Jr. High into Valley View and PHMS - cost to be assumed by our district.
ReplyDeleteWhy our we paying an independent 'coach' $1,000/day at Ygnacio Valley Elementary to train staff? http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/c2c5d59c-cc76-494f-a353-4301a6020310.pdf
ReplyDelete10:54.. as far as I know program improvement schools have the choice to go to other district schools. Acalanes is a different district. Martinez, is a different district. I'm not sure your point?
ReplyDeleteMartinez has no other district jr. high, so they actually are mandated to make an agreement with a neighboring district to accept their students. Martinez chose to approach MDUSD and we agreed http://esb.mdusd.k12.ca.us/attachments/2df5e713-2dd7-42c1-9d3c-932b71f69f9b.pdf
ReplyDeleteWonder how many people on here voted for Arnold back in 03 and are wishing they had their votes back? No experience, but he looks good on TV, let's vote for him. So sad. And Whitman, c'mon, Arnold in the female form.
ReplyDeleteIf you want your child to go to a different school because of NCLB, drive them there yourself! I did a lot of research prior to our last move, to make sure our home school was a good one.
ReplyDeleteI feel for the teachers, but I feel for my kids even more. Why would I want them to go to a public school where there are so many cuts being made, class size is 30, and they speak English but preference is to non english speaking? What are they learning? The teachers must be out of their minds!!
ReplyDeleteI guess if everyone just home schooled thier kids from now on maybe Arnie might get it.
I will take a serious look into all home school options including K-8 accredited online learning communities. I was college educated in the 80's and find that my education level is more than sufficient to teach through 10th grade. I have worked with my 11th grade child on SAT preparation and find that my knowledge is equivalent or better. That said, I am confident that I can educate my kids at home and will be turning to other like minded parents if this budget situation is not remedied soon.
ReplyDeletePlease keep these cuts away from our schools and kids!! Administrative costs should be made over more cuts to our schools. Some ideas - how about eliminating the payroll dept. and/or maintenance. Using an outside service would be a huge cost savings to the district. Another idea would be to completely eliminate our bus services. San Ramon Dist. has NO buses, and is working fine.
ReplyDeleteThe new Superintendent sure has his work cut out for him! I look forward to welcoming him and hope for some strong leadership. Cuts at the school site don't have to be feared if they are handled appropriately. Take a moment to watch this new commercial that is now airing. If we only cut administrative, maintenance etc... without restructuring our learning environments, we will fail. We should be thinking about ground breaking changes not just cuts.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e50YBu14j3U
I recently discovered that several years ago, the district did outsource some of its payroll which did not work well and resulted in fines and litigation. It is actually more economical for MDUSD to use their own payroll than CCCOE. Larger districts such as San Ramon have their own payroll for that reason.
ReplyDeleteThe board did NOT vote on the Martinez Jr. High issue. There is still discussion going on. If the board does pass this, our school district will receive the funds from the state for these children.
For funding from the state, high school only districts receive more funding, then unified, then elementary. Those districts defined as basic aid receive the most. There was a proposal to set up a committee to review how schools get funded by the state but it was vetoed by the Governor.
For non teachers union we do pay 100% of the Kaiser rate. I don't know about the co-payment.
At the last board meeting, the board did eliminate bussing for all general education with the exception of Pittsburg and Bay Point.
Meg Whitman is a supporter of charter schools. MDUSD does not receive the funding for the student attending a charter school; it goes directly to that school. MDUSD still has to maintain associated expense such as payroll, federal and state reporting for the school but we do not receive funds to do this for charter schools.