Updated March 10, 2009

Q:  What’s the effect on Ravenswood of the newly passed state budget?

A:  Like school districts throughout the state, the new state budget with its deep cuts to schools, has a negative impact on Ravenswood.  A reduction of 10 percent, or $1.8 million, must be made to the general fund in the 2009-10 school year.

Q:  How will cuts be decided?

A:  Leadership at the central office and in the schools will continue working together to develop next year’s budget and plan ahead for the following year.  The leadership is being assisted in this process by a newly formed Budget Advisory Task Force.  The leadership and the task force will support the Superintendent in making budget recommendations to the school district’s Board of Trustees.

Q:  Is staff at the school involved in budget decisions?

A:  Principals are meeting regularly with staff at the schools to elicit input, and the Superintendent has been making visits to the schools to provide updates and invite questions and comments.  The Budget Advisory Task Force also includes staff representation.  All teachers and professional support staff are encouraged to advance suggestions for continuing success, given the new budget constraints. 

Q:  Is the community involved in budget decisions?

A:  There is community representation on the Budget Advisory Task Force, including representatives of local government, businesses and community organizations.  The community is also represented on the Task Force through participation of two members of the Board of Trustees, the Director of the Foundation, and a parent.

Q:  Where will cuts be made?

A:  Recommendations are still being discussed.  As part of our commitment to preserving the quality of the educational program, the highest priority is being given to avoiding any layoffs of teachers or increase in class size.  Nearly half of the reductions necessary for 2009-10 will be made at the central office, where every department is targeting a 20 percent reduction.

Q:  Will teachers lose their jobs?

A:  At this point, we are not looking at laying off any teachers.  Any reductions-in-force that cannot be achieved through retirements and unfilled vacancies, will affect non-teaching staff and administration.

Q:  Doesn’t the flexibility offered by the new state budget allow the district to avoid layoffs?

A:  With the need to cut the general fund budget by 10 percent, the flexibility will not allow the district to avoid layoffs.  The hope is that reductions-in-force can be minimized, but the district will need to make some staffing reductions in order to support other services that are being adversely affected by the severe budget cuts made by the state.

Q:  When will employees know for certain if they are being released in the new school year?

A:  The Budget Task Force will complete its review of proposals and submit budget reduction recommendations to the Board of Trustees in April.  We hope to make final budget decisions by May in order to notify staff if they are being released in the new school year.

Q:  What services will be cut?

A: The leadership and the Budget Advisory Task Force are currently discussing this.  Our priority is to retain the quality of the educational program and to ensure student safety and compliance.  With the need to reduce expenses by $1.8 million, a number of services will likely be affected – from transportation and maintenance to special education and clerical support services. 

Q:  Will the district close schools?

A:  The Budget Task Force will review possibilities of the need to close schools.

Q:  Is the district considering year-round schools?

A:  Every option will be given consideration, but we know that year-round schools actually cost more to operate.

Q:  Is the district considering shortening the school year?

A:  Every option will be given consideration, but we hope we will not have to shorten the school year. 

Q:  Will the district close schools?

A:  The Budget Task Force will review savings from closing or relocating small schools.

Q:  Will administration be reduced?

A:  The Budget Task Force will review possible savings from administrative reductions.

Q:  Will there be central office reductions?

A:  The Budget Task Force will review possible savings from central office reductions.

Q:  How is the DAIT paid?

A:  The State allocated funding for its support to sites.

Q:  Can we postpone our textbook adoption of mathematics and intervention programs?

A:  This is an option for other school districts that are NOT in Program Improvement.

Q:  Are there possible opportunities for saving on our special education program?

A:  District administration will review possible special education program savings not related to services to students.

Q:  What is the difference between the district’s general education budget and the categorical budget?

A:  The overall district budget is approximately forty million dollars that accounts for all services and staff in the district.  Fifty-five percent ($22 million) of the forty million is from state and federal categorical allocations/grants/awards. 

The categorical budget is restricted and can only be used according to funding requirements.  The rest of the budget (eighteen million) is from our state allocation for our general education programs. The $1.8 million dollar deficit can only come out of the general education budget of eighteen million.

Q:  Will the Stimulus Packet assist in the $1.8 million dollar deficit?

A:  The Stimulus Packet is intended to supplement our Title I Categorical Budget and Special Education and both of these budgets are restricted and cannot be used to offset the deficit.

Q:  How can we keep community employees in the district?

A:  We hope any staff reduction can occur through existing vacancies or leaves to minimize layoffs.  Classified and certificated staff have contracts that provide direction on bumping rights.

Q:  How can parents and the community help?

A:   Parents can help by being engaged in their students’ education and school and by ensuring their students attend school regularly.  At this time of serious financial challenge, we also look to our community partners for additional support.  Our local business community, for example, might consider donating goods and services to our schools, and community-based organizations might offer to assist families in acquiring services that become reduced or eliminated as part of the district’s necessary cutbacks.  All of our parent and community partners can contact elected officials in Sacramento to give voice to the critical need for funding of our schools and children.

Q:  When will the 2009-10 Budget be finalized?

A:  District and school leadership and Budget Advisory Task Force will be meeting regularly for the next several weeks. It is anticipated that this work will be completed in April.  The Superintendent and the Task Force will make a presentation to the Board of Trustees.  The Board will review recommendations, hear from the public and make their final decisions in May 2009.

Q:  Where can I get more information?

A:  We are committed to keeping all of our internal and external constituencies apprised of developments as they occur.  We will continue utilizing existing communications vehicles, such as parent newsletters and board meetings, and we will regularly post updates on our district website:  http://www.ravenswood.k12.ca.us.