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Office of the Superintendent {Linda Wagner} Superintendent's Report
Monrovia Unified School District
January 2012
Technology Upgrades
This school year, with Community-Funded 1997 and 2006 Bond Measures and matching Federal E-rate funds, Monrovia Unified School District has had the opportunity to install technology upgrades throughout the District. WiFi has been installed in every classroom and the entire network infrastructure has been upgraded District-wide. Additionally, new server hardware has been installed in the central District network facility, 29 digital classrooms have been installed at MHS, a revised digital classroom in room 15 at Plymouth has been installed, and about 200 new computers have been installed. Additionally, 650 new phones were installed in December, to replace the old phone system and reduce operational costs. Overall, we areare about 90 percent complete with the bond-funded technology upgrades. Dual Immersion Grows
Now in its second year, the Dual Immersion Program at Monroe Elementary is having great success in building bilingual and biliterate students. It is impressive to watch our first graders, now in their second year of Spanish and English instruction, working in both languages productively. If you are interested in enrolling a child in the Dual Immersion Program, call Monroe Elementary School at (626) 471-2300.
Condition of the State Budget
The weak economy in the State of California has forced what is termed a “crisis” spending plan for the 2012-13 State budget. There is no recovery of previously lost funds in this budget. In order to avoid further reductions, the Governor relies on the passage of a tax initiative which will be brought to the voters in November. This measure will require a 2/3 vote of the electorate, leaving the future uncertain for public schools.
Proposition 98 For 2012-13, the Proposition 98 funding guarantee is estimated at $52.5 billion, a $4.9 billion increase from the 2011-12 level. These dollars rely fully on the passage of the tax initiative, leaving schools unsure of the financial future relative to Prop 98. If the initiative fails to pass, the Proposition 98 guarantee will drop by $2.4 million. In addition, the State payment for debt service on school bonds will move into Proposition 98 and become an expenditure. This shift requires corresponding cuts to other K-14 spending of $2.4 billion, 89% of which would fall on K-12 education and 11% of which would impact community colleges. This reduction is roughly equivalent to 3 weeks of instruction and would likely be implemented as a cut to revenue from the State in the form of Revenue Limit dollars.
Revenue Limits Mid-year trigger cuts caused a $13 per ADA (Average Daily Attendance) reduction in 2011-12. In 2012-13 this one-time reduction is restored, and flat funding is anticipated for Revenue Limit calculations. If the voters reject the November tax increase initiative, the California pubic school districts will face a $370 per ADA cut. Growth and COLA
The Budget anticipates the COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) to be 3.17% for 2012-13, but simultaneously proposes to eliminate this adjustment via the revenue limit deficit, leaving schools short the 3.17% COLA amount needed to adjust for normal growth in the economy. For Monrovia Schools, this anticipated shortfall alone will constitute an over $900,000 cut per year until this COLA is restored.
Categorical Programs The theme for categorical programs funding in 2012-2013 is “No” - No growth, No COLA, No new programs. The Governor proposes to completely re-create the categorical funding system, allocating previous categorical dollars on a per-student “weighted student formula” basis to promote greater local decision-making authority. The new funding strategy would be phased in over five years, and allocated on a number of need-based factors derived from student data such as income and language proficiency.
Funding Deferrals The Governor proposes catch-up language on deferrals, meaning schools would be paid money that is past due; however, this repayment is contingent upon the passage of the proposed tax initiative.
Transportation The budget eliminates both home-to-school and special education transportation funding. However, the District is still required to provide transportation service to special education students. Transitional Kindergarten
The age at which students begin kindergarten shifts from December 2 to November 1 in the coming school year – 2012-13. Previously anticipated funding for the students with birthdays between November 2 and December 2 will not be provided, eliminating the ability of most districts to provide Transitional Kindergarten classes. What Is the Budget Outlook for Monrovia Schools?
The State has shortened the Revenue Limit funding by imposing a K-12 Revenue Limit Deficit of 20.041% in the current year. In 2012-2013, Monrovia USD anticipates over $900,000 additional cuts per year every year until restoration of the Cost Of Living Adjustment funds (COLA), simply due to the fact that we will not be receiving the COLA. Couple that with the reliance of this budget on the uncertain tax initiative, the loss of badly needed transportation funding, and the possible loss of the equivalent of three weeks worth of education funding, Monrovia, like all school districts in the State of California, faces huge budget difficulties. What is Monrovia's Plan?
At this time, we are adjusting our budget forecasts to anticipated revenue projections, and creating two scenarios – the scenario we will face if the Governor's tax initiative passes, which leaves public schools short of funds, and the dramatically worse scenario that will transpire if the tax initiative fails to pass. From these scenarios, we will begin to budget for the coming year, based on a dramatically reduced fiscal outlook.
Superintendent's Lobbying Efforts
Dr. Wagner will be in Sacramento lobbying with other concerned educators in the coming weeks, spreading the word of the disastrous implications of this Budget on California public schools.
What Can MUSD Supporters Do To Help?
Parents, staff, and supporters are encouraged to contact our representatives in Sacramento and urge them to provide badly needed funding for public schools. The following is the contact information for our local representatives: Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160 Senator Bob Huff: Capitol Office District 29 State Capitol, Room 305, Sacramento, CA 94248-0001; (916) 651-4029 District Office 20888 Amar Road, Suite 205, Walnut, CA 91789; (909) 598-3981 Assemblyman Anthony J. Portantino
District 44 Capitol Office District Office 215 N. Marengo Ave. Suite 115, Pasadena, CA 91101; (626) 577-9944 Assemblyman Tim Donnelly
District 59 Capitol Address District Address |
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