Our
Board continues to wrestle with the evolving budget challenges facing
us in the next school year. This week, the Board approved moving forward
with a 2012-13 budget reduction plan. This strategy requires that our
district make substantial reductions to balance our 2012-13 budget, cuts
that will result in higher class sizes, fewer teachers and support
staff, and detrimental impacts on student learning.
During
the next few weeks, school site budgets will be prepared and merged
with central office department budgets as a consolidated budget
projection that must be reported to the County Office of Education by
March 15. This is also the deadline when the district must notify
teachers and other certificated staff that their contracts may not be
renewed for the next school year. All of this activity occurs long
before our final budget must be completed by June 30, 2012.
As
we move forward, the Board and the district leadership team will
continue to explore every avenue to protect classrooms and mitigate
lay-offs. One way would be through employee concessions. The Board has
directed me to reach out to all of our employee unions to ask that we
begin discussions about concessions that could include forgoing
negotiated raises, continuing furlough days, adjusting health benefits
or other solutions. I am hopeful that we will have productive
discussions with our collective bargaining teams that will result in
shared solutions and sacrifices that are in the best interest of our
students.
We will also continue to press our message with the Sacramento leadership that public education cannot sustain any more cuts.
During
the coming months, many budget details may be adjusted as the lawmakers
debate and reach agreement, and collective bargaining dialogue
identifies solutions.
I
am very proud of the daily commitment of our staff through the
fifth-straight year of budget turmoil. I also appreciate the support of
parents and the community who continue to focus on academic priorities.
They are similarly and staunchly committed to a successful future for
all San Diego children.
I will regularly update you as the budget development cycle unfolds. Budget information is available on our website at www.sandi.net/budget. You can also take action to communicate with your elected officials on our new Education Issues Action Center website at www.sandi.net/actioncenter .
Thank you for your support!
Bill Kowba
Superintendent
Superintendent
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