School District Talks Budget with State Funding Flat

Administrators and trustees discussed an initial draft of the school district’s 2011-12 general budget based on funds from the state they said they expect will remain flat.

The draft is based on a May revision of the state budget that kept financial support of K-12 education flat in lieu of major cuts previously proposed. But the revision is also evidence of grimmer state funding expectations throughout California, according to Beverly Heironimus, assistant superintendent of business services.

“Unfortunately, we're happy with flat funding,” Heironimous said at Tuesday’s board meeting.

She said the number of students in the district continues to grow, with projected enrollment in the coming school year at 6,653 students, an increase of 376 students from October.

The figure puts the district 13 students away from its “high-growth scenario,” Heironimous said.

The district has seen large savings in utilities, with facilities managers partnering with teachers and staff to minimize energy use during off hours, according to Heironimous, who added that the savings helped eliminate furlough days for staff and teachers next year.

In the budget draft, the district put aside $1.5 million in a special reserve fund.

Heironimous said that although the reserve funds are available, an overarching challenge in the next year would be cash flow because of the irregular and unpredictable timing of payments and fund availability from the state. She also said that the district cannot plan long term because the May revision is a one-year budget proposal.

“The future is still uncertain at a state level,” she said. “California is still running a structural deficit. Cash flow may be a risk if that is not dealt with.”

Heironimous said that staff will include updates on the district’s cash availability in future budget discussions.

The district’s budget also makes up for stimulus funds that are scheduled to expire in September, according to Heironimous, adding that such federal funds included $400,000 for special education programs.

Also at the meeting:

• Trustees approve online curriculum program, talk future uses

By unanimous vote, board trustees approved the Odysseyware Online Program as a way to offer online curriculum after the district began using the education tool in a pilot program last spring.

District policy allows students to take up to 20 units through online courses.

Bryce Custodio, director of student services, said feedback from staff was positive on the program, which offers placement tests and diagnostics, customization of courses and real-time curriculum updates. Other features include text translation into eight languages and a message center for students and teachers. The program is available by purchasing a license that costs $250 to $500, said Custodio, adding that several students can use one license as long as they are not online at the same time.

During the pilot program, students found that support was important as they moved through the courses, according to Custodio. Math subjects proved to be more difficult; students found that maintaining a notebook as they progressed was helpful and younger students needed to have an adult work alongside them.

Custodio said that during the pilot testing participants found that the program was more effective for secondary-school students. She said that the online program will continue to be piloted in smaller settings, such as focusing on students seeking to recover credits.

Board trustees said they were excited about the program’s potential impact on online education for students throughout the district.

“We can look at this in a broader sense and not just kids that need to make up credits,” said Vice President Greg Tomlinson. “The bang for the buck seems extraordinary here.”

• Attendees support dyslexia tutoring program

Supporters of the Barton Reading & Spelling System voiced their backing of the tutoring program, which focuses on one-on-one tutoring for students with dyslexia. The tutoring system, used nationwide, is supported locally by a team of volunteer tutors and parents, including 2010 Dublin Citizen of the Year Chris Bennett, who offered a written statement to trustees.

Bennett, who served as a volunteer, said that the program helped her first student's basic skills “soar after eight months.” The two students she’s worked with since have “made incredible progress academically and behaviorally.”

Eric, a new middle-school graduate, echoed the sentiment, telling trustees that he “would have gone to high school with disadvantages” if not for the program.

“Not only has it brought my grades up in English, but helped in other subjects by helping me read books,” he said.

• Next phase of Wells Middle School project on track

Architects visited the meeting to update trustees on the second phase of the Measure C project at Wells Middle School. Representatives from DLM Architecture said contracting for the buildings will begin in spring 2012 and construction will begin in summer 2012, with completion slated for late fall 2013. The project will include a multipurpose building, a plaza and parking area with pick-up and drop-off lane.